Definition

Noun: 1. An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior. It is the part of a person's mind that makes them aware of their own moral judgments and feelings, such as guilt or virtue, about their actions and intentions. 2. A person's moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects their own behavior. This refers to the personal ethical principles or standards that one strives to follow. 3. Conscientiousness; the quality of wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly. (This meaning is less common and often overlaps with a strong sense of moral duty).

Usage and Examples

• General Use: Refers to the internal moral guide.
  • He was tormented by a guilty conscience after lying.
  • Her conscience wouldn't allow her to keep the money she found.
• Describing a Person's Moral Character: Used to describe someone based on the strength or nature of their conscience.
  • She is a woman of conscience who always tries to do the right thing.
  • The politician was accused of having no conscience.
• In Phrases Indicating Moral Reflection: Often used in set phrases related to moral feelings.
  • I have a clear conscience about my decision. (I feel my decision was morally right).
  • The crime has been on his conscience for years. (He has felt guilty about it for years).

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "In (all) conscience": Used to emphasize that something is morally right or fair, or to express a sincere belief.
  • I couldn't, in all conscience, charge him for such a small repair.
• "Prisoner of conscience": A person imprisoned for their political, religious, or other deeply held beliefs, rather than for any violent act.
• "Conscience vote" (or "free vote"): In a legislative body, a vote where members are not obligated to follow a party line and may vote according to their personal conscience.

Variants and Related Words

• Conscientious (adjective): Wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly; guided by or in accordance with one's conscience.
  • She is a very conscientious student.
• Conscientiously (adverb): In a thorough and responsible way.
  • He conscientiously completed all his tasks.
• Conscientiousness (noun): The quality of being conscientious.
• Conscientious objector: A person who refuses to serve in the armed forces or bear arms on moral or religious grounds.

Synonyms

• Scruples: Feelings of doubt or hesitation about the morality of an action.
• Moral sense: An innate feeling of the difference between right and wrong.
• Sense of right and wrong: A personal understanding of morality.
• Inner voice: A metaphorical term for conscience.
• Compunction: A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows wrongdoing. (Often used in the negative: ).

Idioms and Phrases

• A clear/good conscience: A feeling that you have done nothing wrong.
  • She faced her accusers with a clear conscience.
• A guilty/bad conscience: A feeling of guilt or anxiety because you have done something wrong.
  • He couldn't sleep because of his guilty conscience.
• On one's conscience: Causing one to feel guilty.
  • The unsolved case weighed on the detective's conscience.
• Prick/twinge of conscience: A sudden feeling of guilt.
  • He felt a prick of conscience for not helping.
• For conscience('s) sake: Out of a desire to do what is morally right.
  • He returned the wallet for conscience' sake.

Noun

1. a feeling of shame when you do something immoral
   • he has no conscience about his cruelty
2. conformity to one's own sense of right conduct
   • a person of unflagging conscience
3. motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions