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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Example Sentences
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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.
-
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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Voters have expressed remorse In the years since Brexit, Britain’s political landscape has fractured, with declining support for the two long-dominant parties, Conservatives and Labour.
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In an interview with NBC4, the neighbor who called police expressed remorse for making the call.
Noun
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Most of those objections no longer hold.
-
Republicans are considering a sizable, $350-billion-plus increase in Defense spending on par with the White House’s budget request that the GOP could pass on its own, through the reconciliation process that allows Senate majority rule over potential objections from Democrats.
Noun
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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.
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Still, other board members had qualms going into the meeting on specific contract renewals.
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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Rather than adjudicating guilt, the filmmakers opted to leave the question of truth open to viewers.
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But moral injury, formidable as the idea is, doesn’t apply to Odysseus, who suffers from neither shame nor guilt.
Cite this Entry
“Compunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunction. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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