Meaning & use
compunction
Last updated
A feeling of guilt or moral doubt about an action one is about to take or has taken.
See it in a sentence
He showed no compunction about breaking the promise he'd made.
She felt a pang of compunction after snapping at her sister.
A note on using this word
Compunction is most often used in negative constructions, such as 'without compunction' or 'no compunction,' to describe acting without any moral hesitation.
Words with a similar meaning
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