1
as in specks
a very small amount
went about her business without even a scruple of suspicion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in particles
a very small piece
left just a scruple of asparagus on the plate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in doubts
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do
the survey showed that many students had few scruples about cheating on papers or exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hesitates
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
a tabloid journalist who has never scrupled to reveal the most intimate details about the lives of celebrities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scruples
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Mainstream Republicans and right-leaning unaffiliated voters will gravitate to candidates with experience and scruples.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
For Jay Gatsby, a man of immense wealth and few scruples, almost nothing is beyond his voracious appetite for excess.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2025
Luckily Florida has no such scruples.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Incensed at being outsmarted, the CEO of Weyland-Yutani (Sandra Yi Sencindive) allows one of her employees, a cyborg with very few scruples named Morrow (Babou Ceesay), to use any means necessary to reacquire the biological specimens.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
At this point in its history, the theory goes, the United States requires a willful and largely unaccountable power to impose changes that leaders with more delicate sensibilities and procedural scruples cannot ever accomplish.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
This film for me is about morals and scruples and what people will do or won’t do for money.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Mitevska clearly has no such scruples.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
These firms now pay their rainmakers like Wall Street stars and have dropped their courtly scruples for relentless commercialism.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Mainstream Republicans and right-leaning unaffiliated voters will gravitate to candidates with experience and scruples.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
For Jay Gatsby, a man of immense wealth and few scruples, almost nothing is beyond his voracious appetite for excess.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2025
Luckily Florida has no such scruples.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Incensed at being outsmarted, the CEO of Weyland-Yutani (Sandra Yi Sencindive) allows one of her employees, a cyborg with very few scruples named Morrow (Babou Ceesay), to use any means necessary to reacquire the biological specimens.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
At this point in its history, the theory goes, the United States requires a willful and largely unaccountable power to impose changes that leaders with more delicate sensibilities and procedural scruples cannot ever accomplish.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
This film for me is about morals and scruples and what people will do or won’t do for money.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Mitevska clearly has no such scruples.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scruples
Verb
-
If someone hesitates, give them time to respond, because shared goals deserve space for honest input.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Poppy initially hesitates but ends up apologizing to Sarah, admitting that her deep connection with Alex had gotten in the way of her relationship.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trying to hold all of that in, trying to be the one who never falters is not sustainable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
What never falters is the euphoric chaos of the experience.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scruples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scruples. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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