scruple

noun
UK: /ˈskruː.pəl/
US: /ˈskruː.pəl/

  1. A feeling of doubt or hesitation about whether something is morally right or wrong.

    1. I have no scruple about borrowing money from the company.
    2. He overcame his scruples and finally agreed to help them with their plan.

  2. A moral or ethical consideration or principle that inhibits certain actions.

    1. She had no scruples about lying to get what she wanted from other people.
    2. Despite my initial scruples, I found the task surprisingly enjoyable and rewarding.

Synonyms

misgiving doubt hesitation reservation qualm
scruple intransitive-verb

  1. To hesitate or be reluctant to do something because of moral or ethical concerns.

    1. I would scruple to do anything that might hurt her.
    2. He did not scruple to use his connections to get the job he wanted so much.
scruple transitive-verb

  1. To have doubts about the morality of an action or decision.

    1. Do you scruple telling her what really happened at party last week?
    2. I don't scruple paying for good quality items because it's long investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "scruple" in English means: A feeling of doubt or hesitation about whether something is morally right or wrong., A moral or ethical consideration or principle that inhibits certain actions..

The phonetic transcription of "scruple" is /ˈskruː.pəl/ in British English and /ˈskruː.pəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "scruple": misgiving, doubt, hesitation, reservation, qualm.

Example usage of "scruple": "I have no scruple about borrowing money from the company.". More examples on the page.