Consistently acting within the requirements of the law.
Reach for it when describing conduct or a person whose compliance is relevant and established
Law-abiding shop owners kept the required records and treated inspections seriously.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal |
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| literary |
everyday
Fits when peaceful, well-regulated conduct is visible
Careful Orderly behavior may still occur under an unlawful arrangement.
everyday
Fits when reliable civic behavior matters beyond technical legality
Careful Responsible is a broader moral judgment and does not confirm legal compliance.
professional
compliant
Fits when meeting a stated regulation or standard is the exact point
Careful Compliant can mean obeying internal rules rather than public law.
professional
Fits when a business or claim has valid standing
Careful Legitimate does not mean every action taken by its owner follows the law.
formal
Fits when a particular act or arrangement is legally permitted
Careful Lawful normally describes the act, not a person's continuing pattern.
literary
Fits when honorable character is the intended praise
Careful Upright reaches beyond what the law alone can establish.
law-abiding citizen
A law-abiding citizen may still campaign strongly to change an unfair rule.
law-abiding community
The law-abiding community worked openly with election monitors.
generally law-abiding
The generally law-abiding driver corrected the registration oversight at once.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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