COMPUNCTIONS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

compunctions

noun

plural of compunction

as in doubts

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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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.

Recent Examples of compunctions Johnson clearly felt no such compunctions. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 Russia and Ukraine show no compunctions about killing the civilians of their enemy. — Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025 The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions. — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compunctions

Noun

The Health Secretary at the time of the babies’ deaths came to express doubts about Letby’s guilt.

— Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
Some of the jurors have since spoken publicly; three female jurors told NBC10 Boston that the holdout juror had allegedly expressed doubts about the prosecution’s case.

— Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of doubts

Noun

One of the only qualms was the price tag, but a $1,200 markdown pretty much renders that moot.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Asian families are used to dealing with ministries through their businesses, and thus see few qualms in doing so again through their charities.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of qualms

Noun

The stadium tries to be a good neighbor, despite some objections.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
The film internalizes potential objections about a foreign director making a film that claims insight into Japanese characters’ interiority, with Carter being ritualistically insulted as a gaijin, or outsider.

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of objections

Noun

Hilton rejects the argument floated by some of his former colleagues that his scruples became a casualty of his ambition.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Still, there are some smart, well-meaning voices of caution who warn Democrats against forgetting their scruples.

— Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026

Definition of scruples

Noun

Vasarhelyi, seemingly a less hands-on presence in this project, voices a few more misgivings, at one stage pointedly asking her husband how many people who have previously been guests at their dinner table are now dead.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Wall Street analysts expressed misgivings due to expanding memory chip costs, questions over demand as product prices rise and continued pressure on profit margins, StreetAccount said.

— Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of misgivings

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compunction

compunctions

compunctious

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“Compunctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunctions. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of compunctions

noun

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