Definition

Noun: A feeling of guilt, regret, or moral unease arising from one's conscience, especially concerning a past action or misdeed. It implies a pang of conscience or a sense of remorse.

Usage

The word "compunction" is used to describe an internal feeling of guilt or scruple. It is often used in contexts where one's actions may have caused harm, been unethical, or gone against one's principles. It is more formal and less common in everyday speech than words like "guilt" or "regret."

Examples

• He felt no compunction about taking credit for his colleague's work.
• She donated to charity without compunction, believing it was her duty.
• After lying to his friend, a sudden compunction made him confess the truth.
• The soldier acted with ruthless efficiency and without compunction.

Advanced Usage

• "To have compunctions (about something)": To have feelings of doubt or guilt that make you hesitate to do something.
  • She had no compunctions about moving abroad for her career.
• "A pang/twinge of compunction": A sudden, sharp feeling of guilt.
  • He felt a twinge of compunction for his harsh words.

Variants and Related Words

• Compunctions (plural noun): Feelings of guilt or moral scruple that prevent or follow an action.
• Compunctious (adjective, rare): Feeling or showing compunction.
  • A compunctious sigh.

Synonyms

• Remorse: Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.
• Contrition: The state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
• Qualm: A momentary feeling of uneasiness or doubt, often about the rightness of an action.
• Scruple: A feeling of doubt or hesitation based on moral grounds.
• Guilt: The fact of having committed a specified or implied offense.

Antonyms

• Ruthlessness: The quality of having no pity or compassion.
• Shamelessness: Behavior that shows a lack of shame.
• Impenitence: The state of not feeling regret or sorrow for one's sins or offenses.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Without (a) compunction": To do something without any feeling of guilt or regret.
  • He would fire employees without compunction to cut costs.
• "To be seized with compunction" (literary/formal): To be suddenly overcome by a strong feeling of guilt or remorse.
  • Upon seeing her tears, he was seized with compunction.

Noun

1. a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)