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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republicans in July overcame qualms about Trump’s polarizing antics and legal problems to nominate him a third time, galvanized after an assassination attempt by a gunman whose bullets nicked Trump’s ear at a Pennsylvania rally, killed a supporter and raised national tensions. Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 The new gang surrounding Trump will have few of Kelly’s qualms. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024 But DeWitt did have one qualm with her hit show, how her character rode off into the sunset. Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 19 Sep. 2024 Her biggest qualm so far, beyond one small hiccup with a machine jamming, is the humidity. Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for qualm 

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

Dictionary Entries Near qualm

Cite this Entry

“Qualm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qualm. Accessed 3 Dec. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!