compunction

(kəm-pŭngk'shən)
n.

1. A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt. See synonyms at penitence.
2. A sting of conscience or a pang of doubt aroused by wrongdoing or the prospect of wrongdoing. See synonyms at qualm.

[Middle English compunccioun, from Old French componction, from Late Latin compūnctiō, compūnctiōn-, puncture, sting of conscience, from Latin compūnctus, past participle of compungere, to sting : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + pungere, to prick.]

compunctious com·punc'tious (-shəs) adj.
compunctiously com·punc'tious·ly adv.

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noun

1. A feeling of regret for one's sins or misdeeds: contriteness, contrition, penitence, penitency, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue. Theology attrition. See regret/impenitence.
2. A feeling of uncertainty about the fitness or correctness of an action: misgiving, qualm, reservation, scruple. See certain/uncertain.

n

Definition: regret, sorrow
Antonyms: defiance, meanness, no remorse

IN BRIEF: An uneasy feeling in one's conscience.

The beginning of compunction is the beginning of a new life. — George Eliot (1819-1880).

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See words rhyming with "compunction."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Compunction.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - samvittighedsnag

Nederlands (Dutch)
wroeging, scrupule

Français (French)
n. - remords, scrupule

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schuldgefühle, Gewissensbiß

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ενδοιασμός, ηθική αναστολή

Italiano (Italian)
rimorso, senso di colpa, pentimento

Português (Portuguese)
n. - compunção (f)

Русский (Russian)
угрызения совести

Español (Spanish)
n. - remordimiento, escrúpulo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - samvetsbetänkligheter, skrupler

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
良心的责备, 悔恨, 后悔

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 良心的責備, 悔恨, 後悔

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 양심의 가책, 뉘우침

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 良心の呵責, 良心のとがめ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تأنيب الضمير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮נקיפת מצפון‬

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