qualm

qualm

noun \ˈkwäm also ˈkwȯm or ˈkwälm\

Definition of QUALM

1

: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea

2

: a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear)

3

: a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety

— qualmy adjective

Examples of QUALM

1. He accepted their offer without a qualm.
2. <she has no qualms about downloading pirated music files from the Internet>

Origin of QUALM

origin unknown

First Known Use: circa 1530

Related to QUALM

Synonyms

compunction, misgiving, scruple

Related Words

conscience; distrust, doubt, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty; qualmishness, unease, uneasiness; reluctance, unwillingness; demur, fuss, objection, protest, question, remonstrance; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness; guilt, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame; contrition, penitence, repentance

Near Antonyms

aplomb, assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness

Synonym Discussion of QUALM

qualm, scruple, compunction, demur mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do. qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment <no qualms about plagiarizing>. scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle <no scruples against buying stolen goods>. compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim <had compunctions about lying>. demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence <accepted her decision without demur>.