as in doubts
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do
throughout her school years she cheated without compunction
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Recent Examples of compunctions
Russia and Ukraine show no compunctions about killing the civilians of their enemy.
—
Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compunctions
Noun
-
Those doubts have eased now that Pope Francis is playing to its potential.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
However, Emeka Moronu, manufacturing industry expert, expresses doubts about its widespread adoption.—
Etiido Uko
March 14,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But Johnson had no such qualms.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The show itself makes no qualms about being Irish.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Uber’s website says service animals must be accommodated in compliance with applicable accessibility laws and the company’s service animal policy, which says there are no exceptions due to allergies, religious objections, or a fear of animals.—
Steve Karnowski,
Twin Cities,
11 Mar. 2026
-
On Tuesday night, members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes, a billionaire has very questionable scruples as to the best ways to go about things.—
Jevon Phillips,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
These firms now pay their rainmakers like Wall Street stars and have dropped their courtly scruples for relentless commercialism.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Activists attempt to impose social costs on people who voice reasonable misgivings about youth gender medicine.—
Ben Appel,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Residents who spoke also expressed their misgivings about the proposal.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compunctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunctions. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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