Definition of qualm
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
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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 of qualm from the Web
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History remembers the winners, and all qualms will surely be forgotten should Real beat Juventus in Saturday's final.
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Mr. Howe, who eventually agreed to be interviewed for the film, said that Mr. Bannon seemed to have no qualms about the destruction part of the cycle.
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The nannies had no qualms; their heads remained lowered, focussed on screens, as if reading Scripture.
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The technique, known as familial DNA searching, has made inroads in some U.S. states and other countries in the last decade, leading to both high-profile arrests and civil-liberties qualms.
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Wading into the American championships in June, Mr. Egan had no qualms.
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Pence actively admitted that the bill was discriminatory, and yet had no qualms about signing it.
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I’d been convinced that contouring was for reality-TV stars with on-staff makeup artists who had no qualms about having sharp, discernible, 1980s-esque slashes of blush drawn onto their faces.
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As for spending the past few years neck-deep in Led Zeppelin's music, first for the CD/DVD release of the band's historic 2007 reunion show, and now for the remasters of the core studio albums, Page clearly has no qualms.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'qualm'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Etymologists aren't sure where qualm originated, but they do know it entered English around 1530. Originally, it referred to a sudden sick feeling. Robert Louis Stevenson made use of this older sense in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A qualm came over me, a horrid nausea and the most deadly shuddering. Soon after qualm entered the language, it came to designate not only sudden attacks of illness, but also sudden attacks of emotion or principle. In The Sketch Book, for example, Washington Irving wrote, Immediately after one of these fits of extravagance, he will be taken with violent qualms of economy.... Eventually, qualm took on the specific (and now most common) meaning of doubt or uneasiness, particularly in not following one's conscience or better judgment.
Origin and Etymology of qualm
origin unknown
First Known Use: circa 1530
Synonym Discussion of qualm
QUALM Defined for English Language Learners
qualm
playDefinition of qualm for English Language Learners
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: a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about whether you are doing the right thing
QUALM Defined for Kids
qualm
playDefinition of qualm for Students
: a feeling of doubt or uncertainty especially in matters of right and wrong She had no qualms about lying.
Learn More about qualm
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for qualm Spanish Central: Translation of qualm Nglish: Translation of qualm for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of qualm for Arabic speakers
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