qualm

noun

ˈkwäm How to pronounce qualm (audio)
 also  ˈkwȯm,
or
ˈkwälm How to pronounce qualm (audio)
1
: a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety
had no qualms about asking for their help
It was about an enduring secular world where people did unspeakable things, seemingly without qualm and without any grave consequences to themselves.Jim Holt
2
: a sudden feeling of usually disturbing emotion (such as doubt or fear)
I had a qualm of absolute horror, and shuddered; and then the emotion was immediately repressed or suppressed.Oliver Sacks
3
: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea
The doctor seemed seized with a qualm of faintness.Robert Louis Stevenson
qualmy
ˈkwä-mē How to pronounce qualm (audio)
 also  ˈkwȯ-
 or  ˈkwäl-
adjective

Did you know?

Etymologists are not sure how qualm came to be, but early use of the word is for a sudden sick feeling. It then was used for a sudden attack of emotion. Today, qualm usually refers to a feeling of uneasiness, particularly in not following one's conscience or better judgment.

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of qualm in a Sentence

He accepted their offer without a qualm. she has no qualms about downloading pirated music files from the Internet
Recent Examples on the Web Some teams have no qualms about surpassing it while others won’t come close. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Oklahoma Republicans aren’t the first conservative lawmakers to have qualms about capital punishment. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb. 2024 Ferry said the coaches had no qualms about entrusting the team’s leadership to Brown. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2024 While Fallon appeared to be hocking the brunt of his coffee carnage away from Cher, the Grammy-winner had no qualms about spraying the host directly in the face with a large mouthful of coffee. EW.com, 8 Dec. 2023 Yet for all her liberal, left-leaning, Portland-living, veganism, River has no qualms about selling the photos, either. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2023 Despite her prudish persona, Lili has no qualms about urinating in the middle of the street, much to her granddaughter’s embarrassment. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2024 Elizabeth Morris—Netflix How pop culture refashioned the real story of Griselda Blanco The real-life Griselda reportedly had no qualms about killing with impunity and, according to many, zeal. Laura Zornosa, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024 My only qualm with the Wonder Oven is the claim about preheating and the lack of a live temperature display. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'qualm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of qualm was circa 1530

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Dictionary Entries Near qualm

Cite this Entry

“Qualm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qualm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

qualm

noun
ˈkwäm How to pronounce qualm (audio) ˈkwälm How to pronounce qualm (audio)
 also  ˈkwȯm
1
: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea
2
: a sudden fear
3
: a feeling of doubt or indecision in matters of right and wrong
had qualms about coming home late
qualmy
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on qualm

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