compunction

noun

com·​punc·​tion kəm-ˈpəŋ(k)-shən 

1

a

: anxiety arising from awareness of guilt

compunctions of conscience

b

: distress of mind over an anticipated action or result

… showed no compunction in planning devilish engines of … destruction.

—Havelock Ellis

2

: a twinge of misgiving : scruple

cheated without compunction

… he had no compunction about brushing aside legal technicalities.

—Robert Penn Warren

compunctious

kəm-ˈpəŋ(k)-shəs 

adjective

Did you know?

An old proverb says "a guilty conscience needs no accuser," and it's true that the sting of a guilty conscience—or a conscience that is provoked by the contemplation of doing something wrong—can prick very hard indeed. The sudden guilty "prickings" of compunction are reflected in the word's etymological history. Compunction comes (via Anglo-French compunction and Middle English compunccioun) from Latin compungere, which means "to prick hard" or "to sting." Compungere, in turn, derives from pungere, meaning "to prick," which is the ancestor of some other prickly words in English, such as puncture and even point.

Synonyms

• misgiving
• qualm
• scruple

Choose the Right Synonym for compunction

penitence, repentance, contrition, compunction, remorse mean regret for sin or wrongdoing.

penitence implies sad and humble realization of and regret for one's misdeeds.

absolution is dependent upon sincere penitence

repentance adds the implication of a resolve to change.

repentance accompanied by a complete change of character

contrition stresses the sorrowful regret that constitutes true penitence.

tearful expressions of contrition

compunction implies a painful sting of conscience especially for contemplated wrongdoing.

had no compunctions about taking back what is mine

remorse suggests prolonged and insistent self-reproach and mental anguish for past wrongs and especially for those whose consequences cannot be remedied.

thieves untroubled by feelings of remorse

qualm, scruple, compunction, demur mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do.

qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment.

no qualms about plagiarizing

scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle.

no scruples against buying stolen goods

compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim.

had compunctions about lying

demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence.

accepted her decision without demur

Examples of compunction in a Sentence

a brutal murderer who killed without compunction

He feels no compunction about his crimes.

He has no compunctions about his crimes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Indulging the illusion that humans can control these systems while war is ongoing will tie democratic nations’ hands against adversaries with no such compunctions. —Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024

People with elevated psychopathic traits lie—constantly, intentionally, with great skill, and without compunction. —Gautam Mukunda, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

And if the writers are true to Tolkien, our heroes will have no compunctions about killing many, many, many orcs. —Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024

Calhoun belonged to a generation of scientists who had no compunctions about straying from their disciplinary lane. —Ben Goldfarb, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English compunccioun, from Anglo-French compunction, from Late Latin compunction-, compunctio, from Latin compungere to prick hard, sting, from com- + pungere to prick — more at pungent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

compunction

noun

com·​punc·​tion kəm-ˈpəŋ(k)-shən 

1

: sharp uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt : remorse

2

: a passing feeling of regret for some slight wrong