different between watchful vs scrupulous

English

Etymology

From Middle English waccheful, equivalent to watch +? -ful. Compare West Frisian waaks (“watchful”), Dutch waaks, waakzaam (“watchful”), German wachsam (“watchful”), Swedish vaksam (“watchful”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?w?t??.f?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?w?t??.f?l/
• Hyphenation: watch?ful

Adjective

watchful (comparative more watchful, superlative most watchful)

1. Fully observant, vigilant, or aware.

   The teacher kept a watchful eye on her pupils during the school trip.

Derived terms

• watchfully
• watchfulness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French scrupuleux, from Latin scrupulosus

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sk?u?.pj?.l?s/

Adjective

scrupulous (comparative more scrupulous, superlative most scrupulous)

1. Exactly and carefully conducted.

   He is scrupulous in his finances.
2. Having scruples or compunctions.

   He is a scrupulous businessman and always acts in the best interest of his company.

3. Precise; exact or strict
4. Wrongly feeling guilt or anxiety about one’s morality; suffering from scrupulosity.

   Because I have a scrupulous conscience, I sometimes need to be reminded that not everything I do is sinful.

Synonyms

• meticulous, painstaking
• worried
• ethical, fair-minded, honourable, just, moral, righteous
• See also Thesaurus:meticulous

Antonyms

• unscrupulous

Related terms

• scrupulously
• scrupulousness
• scrupulosity

Translations