scruples

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Moral doubts that make a person unwilling to do something they think may be wrong.

   Grammar: Usually plural: he has no scruples, and the word takes a plural verb.

   Patterns

   • have scruples about something
   • without scruples
   • no scruples about doing something

   She had no scruples about reading her sister's diary.

   He overcame his scruples and told the truth.

   A man without scruples will say anything to win.

2. 2nouncountableold-fashionedspecialist

   A very small unit of weight once used by pharmacists.

   Grammar: In this old sense, it can be singular: one scruple equals twenty grains.

   Patterns

   • a scruple of something

   The old recipe called for a scruple of salt.

   Apothecaries once measured medicine by the scruple.

Word forms

Common combinations

have no scruples

Some salespeople have no scruples about lying.

moral scruples

His moral scruples kept him from taking the bribe.

without scruples

The investor acted without scruples.

overcome scruples

She finally overcame her scruples and signed.

ethical scruples

The doctor refused on ethical scruples.

Synonyms and how they differ

qualms

Qualms are uneasy feelings about an action, usually weaker and more passing than scruples.

conscience

Conscience is the inner sense of right and wrong itself, while scruples are the particular doubts it raises.

misgivings

Misgivings are worries about whether something will turn out well, not necessarily moral ones.

Opposites

Word family

scrupulous adjective

very careful and honest about doing what is right

unscrupulous adjective

willing to act dishonestly

scrupulously adverb

with great care and honesty

scruple verb

to hesitate on moral grounds, a formal use

Commonly confused: scruples or scrapple?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “scruples”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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