Compunction
noun
A feeling of guilt or moral regret that prevents or follows the doing of something wrong.
She felt no compunction about quitting her job without giving notice.
Often appears as...
- feel no compunction
- without compunction
noun
A pricking; stimulation.
The compunction of our shared experience pricked my conscience.
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
A feeling of guilt or moral regret that prevents or follows the doing of something wrong.
She felt no compunction about quitting her job without giving notice.
Often appears as...
- feel no compunction
- without compunction
noun
A pricking; stimulation.
The compunction of our shared experience pricked my conscience.
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Guilt-Driven Action
Compunction often relates to the guilt that influences decisions or actions.
Under the compunction of his conscience, he returned the stolen money.
Pro Tip 2/3Regret Aftermath
It also denotes regret felt after performing a wrongful act.
She donated to charity, driven by compunction for her past selfishness.
Pro Tip 3/3Moral Dilemma
The word highlights a person's moral struggle before or after doing something wrong.
He faced compunction before making the choice to lie in court.
Pro Tip 1/3Guilt-Driven Action
Compunction often relates to the guilt that influences decisions or actions.
Under the compunction of his conscience, he returned the stolen money.
Pro Tip 2/3Regret Aftermath
It also denotes regret felt after performing a wrongful act.
She donated to charity, driven by compunction for her past selfishness.
Pro Tip 3/3Moral Dilemma
The word highlights a person's moral struggle before or after doing something wrong.
He faced compunction before making the choice to lie in court.
Pro Tip 1/3Guilt-Driven Action
Compunction often relates to the guilt that influences decisions or actions.
Under the compunction of his conscience, he returned the stolen money.
Pro Tip 2/3Regret Aftermath
It also denotes regret felt after performing a wrongful act.
She donated to charity, driven by compunction for her past selfishness.
Pro Tip 3/3Moral Dilemma
The word highlights a person's moral struggle before or after doing something wrong.
He faced compunction before making the choice to lie in court.
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Video examples
The Bee-utiful World of...
native plants of a certain kind so you remove those native plants you remove those bees and the more we affect our environment by building on it or moving into agriculture we just naturally have lost a big chunk of bee populations the main human compunction is to neat and
Video examples
The Bee-utiful World of...
native plants of a certain kind so you remove those native plants you remove those bees and the more we affect our environment by building on it or moving into agriculture we just naturally have lost a big chunk of bee populations the main human compunction is to neat and
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Connie Nielsen
Danish Actress
You love your child, and you want to protect your child more than anything on this planet, and yet, by the time they're 17, 18, they're going to step into this world, and that world will not feel the same compunction, necessarily, toward your daughter.
Quote examples
Robert M. Gates
American Politician
I've spent my entire adult life with the United States as a superpower and one that had no compunction about spending what it took to sustain that position. And it didn't have to look over its shoulder because our economy was so strong.
Quote examples
B. R. Ambedkar
Indian Politician
The Touchables, whether they are vegetarians or flesh-eaters, are united in their objection to eat cow's flesh. As against them stand the Untouchables, who eat cow's flesh without compunction and as a matter of course and habit.
Quote examples
Jane Hawking
English Author
Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his closest relatives... He considered my friends to be easy victims and had no compunction in monopolizing the conversation at parties with his controversial opinions.
Quote examples
Frank Pittman
American Psychologist
Men who have been raised violently have every reason to believe it is appropriate for them to control others through violence; they feel no compunction over being violent to women, children, and one another.
Quote examples
Mark Pellegrino
American Actor
Evolutionary science kind of bears that out: When species are rivals and competing for space and resources, the superior one wins. Nature has no compunction about that; it just is.
Quote examples
Mike D
American Musician
I feel no compunction to defend L.A. People criticize it, and for the most part, it's well-founded.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
The beginning of compunction is the beginning of a new life.
Quote examples
Connie Nielsen
Danish Actress
You love your child, and you want to protect your child more than anything on this planet, and yet, by the time they're 17, 18, they're going to step into this world, and that world will not feel the same compunction, necessarily, toward your daughter.
Quote examples
Robert M. Gates
American Politician
I've spent my entire adult life with the United States as a superpower and one that had no compunction about spending what it took to sustain that position. And it didn't have to look over its shoulder because our economy was so strong.
Quote examples
B. R. Ambedkar
Indian Politician
The Touchables, whether they are vegetarians or flesh-eaters, are united in their objection to eat cow's flesh. As against them stand the Untouchables, who eat cow's flesh without compunction and as a matter of course and habit.
Quote examples
Jane Hawking
English Author
Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his closest relatives... He considered my friends to be easy victims and had no compunction in monopolizing the conversation at parties with his controversial opinions.
Quote examples
Frank Pittman
American Psychologist
Men who have been raised violently have every reason to believe it is appropriate for them to control others through violence; they feel no compunction over being violent to women, children, and one another.
Quote examples
Mark Pellegrino
American Actor
Evolutionary science kind of bears that out: When species are rivals and competing for space and resources, the superior one wins. Nature has no compunction about that; it just is.
Quote examples
Mike D
American Musician
I feel no compunction to defend L.A. People criticize it, and for the most part, it's well-founded.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
The beginning of compunction is the beginning of a new life.
Example 1 of 8
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