COMPUNCTIOUS Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

compunctious

adjective

Definition of compunctious

as in ashamed

feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done he appeared not the least bit compunctious about ditching his friends at the restaurant and leaving them to pay the bill

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compunctious

Adjective

The Spartans should be proud, and the Trojans should be ashamed.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Policies that may make people feel judged or ashamed to use SNAP, therefore, cannot be evaluated solely by whether purchases of one particular product decline.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ashamed

Adjective

Thank god for two thinkers willing to sit and untangle our sorry state of affairs.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
And viewers’ mileage will certainly vary with this peculiar, fun little concoction on seclusion, connection and the need to belong that can’t hide its undercurrent of melancholy about the sorry state of a divided world.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of sorry

Adjective

Several artists said Ludlow, though remorseful about the festival’s outcome, failed to communicate updates about the cancellation beyond last-minute form letters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
To Tommy, Anna and Molly are twittering encumbrances, idiotic in their insistence on good works and the good of man, their endless remorseful hedgings about the Communist Party.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of remorseful

Adjective

An apologetic Marks had to deliver the news to her royal friend that she was required to be with family for the last weeks of August, and would be unable to take the trip to Italy as planned.

— Allie Merriam, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026
Learning that Duarte was out of the country in Spain, Schrager was immediately apologetic.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of apologetic

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.

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compunctions

compunctious

compurgation

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“Compunctious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunctious. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of compunctious

adjective

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