Scruples are moral principles or beliefs that make you unwilling to do something that seems wrong.
...a man with no moral scruples.
Synonyms: misgiving, hesitation, qualm, doubt More Synonyms of scruple
More Synonyms of scruple
scruple in British English
(ˈskruːpəl)
noun
1. (often plural)
a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation
2. archaic
a very small amount
3.
a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.296 grams)
4.
an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to approximately one twenty-fourth of an ounce
verb
5. (obsolete when tr)
to have doubts (about), esp for a moral reason
Derived forms
scrupleless (ˈscrupleless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin scrūpulus a small weight, from scrūpus rough stone
scruple in American English
(ˈskrupəl)
noun
1.
a very small quantity, amount, or part
2.
a.
an ancient Roman unit of weight equal to 1⁄24 ounce
b.
a unit of weight equal to 1⁄3 dram apothecaries' weight or 20 grains (1.296 grams): abbrev. sc
3.
a feeling of hesitancy, doubt, or uneasiness arising from difficulty in deciding what is right, proper, ethical, etc.; qualm or misgiving about something one thinks is wrong
4. [pl.]
high ethical standards
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈscrupled or ˈscrupling
5.
to hesitate (at) from doubt or uneasiness; be unwilling because of one's conscience; have scruples (about)
SIMILAR WORDS: qualm
Word origin
MFr scrupule < L scrupulus, small sharp stone (hence small weight, difficulty, doubt), dim. of scrupus, sharp stone < IE *skreup- < base *(s)ker-, to cut
Examples of 'scruple' in a sentence
scruple
But many share her apparent lack of scruples.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Nor did he have any scruples about hitting below the belt.
Richard Ingrams The Life and Adventures of William Cobbett (2005)
Anyone with scruples about gambling should not work in a betting shop.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There are also those at the other end of the financial spectrum who have few scruples about money.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had no scruples about publishing it: but where?
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
Of course, many will feel scruples about criticising others for how they spend their money out of fear of sounding hypocritical.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I think they should be able to decline service for various reasons, religious scruples included.
Christianity Today (2000)
If this temptation were to win out over their religious scruples, they would be unable to plant new crops when the rains begin again.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
Although in theory they may have scruples about eating meat, they are happy to overlook them if the meat is presented cleansed of any prior history.
Joanna Blythman Bad Food Britain (2006)
In other languages
scruple
British English: scruple NOUN
Scruples are moral principles or beliefs that make you unwilling to do something that seems wrong.
...a man with no moral scruples.
American English: scruple
Brazilian Portuguese: escrúpulo
Chinese: 道德良知
European Spanish: escrúpulo
French: scrupule
German: Skrupel
Italian: scrupolo
Japanese: 良心のとがめ
Korean: 양심
European Portuguese: escrúpulo
Latin American Spanish: escrúpulo
(noun)
Definition
a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation
a man with no moral scruples
Synonyms
misgiving
She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.
hesitation
The board said it had no hesitation in rejecting the offer.
qualm
I had a sudden qualm that all might not be well.
doubt
They were troubled and full of doubt.
difficulty
caution
reluctance
second thoughts
uneasiness
I felt a great uneasiness about meeting her again.
perplexity
compunction
I had no compunction about stealing from my parents.
squeamishness
twinge of conscience
(verb)
Definition
to have doubts (about), esp. on moral grounds
Synonyms
have misgivings about
doubt
Stop doubting and start loving.
hesitate
I will not hesitate to take unpopular decisions.
be reluctant
falter
I have not faltered in my quest for a new future.
waver
Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.
stick at
balk at
think twice about
demur
At first I demurred when he asked me to do it.
be loath
vacillate
She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
have qualms about
Additional synonyms
in the sense of compunction
Definition
a feeling of guilt or regret
I had no compunction about stealing from my parents.
Synonyms
guilt,
misgiving,
qualm,
scruples,
regret,
reluctance,
sorrow,
remorse,
repentance,
contrition,
penitence,
stab or sting of conscience,
work out
in the sense of demur
Definition
to show reluctance
At first I demurred when he asked me to do it.
Synonyms
object,
refuse,
protest,
doubt,
dispute,
pause,
disagree,
hesitate,
waver,
balk,
take exception,
cavil
in the sense of doubt
Definition
uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something
They were troubled and full of doubt.
Synonyms
uncertainty,
confusion,
hesitation,
dilemma,
scepticism,
misgiving,
suspense,
indecision,
bewilderment,
lack of confidence,
hesitancy,
perplexity,
vacillation,
lack of conviction,
irresolution,
dubiety
Synonyms of 'scruple'
scruple
Explore 'scruple' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of doubt
Stop doubting and start loving.
Synonyms
waver,
hesitate,
vacillate,
sway,
fluctuate,
dither (British),
haver,
oscillate,
chop and change,
blow hot and cold (informal),
keep changing your mind,
shillyshally (informal),
be irresolute or indecisive,
swither (Scottish)
in the sense of falter
Definition
to be hesitant, weak, or unsure
I have not faltered in my quest for a new future.
Synonyms
hesitate,
delay,
waver,
vacillate,
break
in the sense of hesitate
Definition
to be reluctant (to do something)
I will not hesitate to take unpopular decisions.
Synonyms
be reluctant,
be unwilling,
shrink from,
think twice,
boggle,
scruple,
demur,
hang back,
be disinclined,
balk or baulk
in the sense of hesitation
The board said it had no hesitation in rejecting the offer.
Synonyms
reluctance,
reservation(s),
misgiving(s),
ambivalence,
qualm(s),
unwillingness,
scruple(s),
compunction,
demurral
in the sense of qualm
Definition
a sudden sensation of misgiving
I had a sudden qualm that all might not be well.
Synonyms
misgiving,
doubt,
uneasiness,
regret,
anxiety,
uncertainty,
reluctance,
hesitation,
remorse,
apprehension,
disquiet,
scruple,
compunction,
twinge or pang of conscience
in the sense of uneasiness
I felt a great uneasiness about meeting her again.
Synonyms
anxiety,
apprehension,
misgiving,
worry,
doubt,
alarm,
suspicion,
nervousness,
disquiet,
agitation,
qualms,
trepidation (formal),
perturbation,
apprehensiveness,
dubiety
in the sense of vacillate
Definition
to keep changing one's mind or opinions about something
She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
Synonyms
waver,
hesitate,
dither (British),
haver,
sway,
falter,
be doubtful,
fluctuate,
be uncertain,
be unsure,
teeter,
oscillate,
be undecided,
chop and change,
seesaw,
blow hot and cold (informal),
temporize,
hum and haw,
be unable to decide,
keep changing your mind,
shillyshally (informal),
be irresolute or indecisive,
swither (Scottish),
be unable to make up your mind (British),
dillydally
in the sense of waver
Definition
to swing from one thing to another
Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.