qualm

noun \ ˈkwäm also ˈkwȯm or ˈkwälm \

Updated on: 25 May 2018

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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qualmy

play \ˈkwä-mē also ˈkwȯ- or ˈkwäl-\ adjective

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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

But that's just me—and other, more seasoned staffers had no qualms about wearing dark or colorful polish.

— deanna pai, Glamour, "How Essie’s Ballet Slippers Became the 'Safe' Shade," 18 May 2018
Should Lindbergh adhere to this schedule San Diego would be but 64 hours distant from the French capital. TAKES SPIN IN NAVY PLANE This intrepid 26-year-old youth has no qualms about night flying.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "May 11, 1927: Lindbergh winging his way from San Diego to Paris," 11 May 2018
His first trip to Westworld allowed him to discover his truer, darker self, and the man who emerged had no qualms about using the park for the most cynical, commercial purpose possible.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Westworld Spoilers Club season 2, episode 2: Reunion," 30 Apr. 2018
Scouts had no qualms about Thomas’ game but were worried about his goals.

— jeff potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin officials rave about Joe Thomas as a football player and friend," 14 Mar. 2018
The Bengals had no qualms or discussion about who to call in to Dallas with next -- Ohio State's Billy Price.

— jim owczarski, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bengals Xtra: Truth behind Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph and NFL Draft rumors," 30 Apr. 2018
Some locals have qualms about whether hosting a major international event like the World Championships is really in Eugene’s interest.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "Farewell, Old Hayward Field," 27 Apr. 2018
And for now, the vast majority of liberal Jews remain reflexively supportive of the Jewish state, while most who aren’t decline to translate their qualms into political action.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Natalie Portman and the Crisis of Liberal Zionism," 26 Apr. 2018
Unluckily for David, Cyrus has no qualms about killing him, poisoning David in a lethal plot twist everyone saw coming the moment Jake didn't pull the trigger.

— anika reed, USA TODAY, "'Scandal' series finale recap: Olivia Pope finally puts herself first," 20 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1530

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

qualm Synonyms

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.