as in doubt
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do
throughout her school years she cheated without compunction
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Recent Examples of compunction
Often transnational agreements are necessary if pipelines pass through several territories and security — something in short supply when Iran has shown no compunction in attacking neighbors’ energy facilities.
—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
The overriding impression of Altman from Farrow and Marantz’s story is of a borderline sociopath; an executive with no compunction about lying to get ahead.
—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
And second, airing poor behavior within a community can normalize it so that others feel less compunction about their own sins.
—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Mar. 2026
And that includes absolutely no compunction about sharing the time Sharon decided to destroy husband Ozzy's drugs in an attempt to keep him sober.
—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compunction
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
The overriding impression of Altman from Farrow and Marantz’s story is of a borderline sociopath; an executive with no compunction about lying to get ahead.
—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
And second, airing poor behavior within a community can normalize it so that others feel less compunction about their own sins.
—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Mar. 2026
And that includes absolutely no compunction about sharing the time Sharon decided to destroy husband Ozzy's drugs in an attempt to keep him sober.
—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compunction
Noun
-
The prosecutor’s office, taking a fresh look at the murder, learned the lead investigator shared those doubts.
-
Caicedo has made a name for himself as a regular starter for Chelsea in recent years — and his appearance in the Champions League leaves no doubt about his experience in high stakes matches.
Noun
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Still, there are some smart, well-meaning voices of caution who warn Democrats against forgetting their scruples.
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The people of every commune knew and feared those like him — stern figures in black whose ideological devotion appeared to outweigh any moral scruples.
Noun
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The communication reportedly did not seek payment and included language expressing remorse, a detail experts say is unusual in genuine ransom demands.
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In an Instagram story, the woman credited with posting the video sharing the Post’s reporting expressed remorse over the situation.
Noun
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When New England became a stop on major international trade routes, the multicultural floodgates opened and Puritan objections to things like fashion, elaborate design, lavish displays of wealth and other things deemed excessive were being continually, casually challenged.
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On Tuesday, the ELPC and other environmental groups sued the EPA over its slow response to objections to the Gary permit.
Noun
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But his qualms weren’t about the level of destruction in Gaza or the high civilian toll, both of which drew global outrage.
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Smith's qualms stemmed from the massive requirements for the presidential visit, which shut down surrounding streets near Madison Square Garden and forced police to clear out outdoor watch parties.
Noun
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In a pricey travel year, travelers are adopting savvy strategies to enjoy high-end experiences with less financial regret.
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The independent channel exposes that mistake early enough to stop it from becoming a warehouse full of regret.
Noun
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Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
-
Graf said that comment violated a rule prohibiting prosecutors from expressing their opinion about the guilt or innocence of a defendant.
Cite this Entry
“Compunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunction. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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