COMPUNCTIONS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

compunctions

noun

plural of compunction

as in doubts

an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do throughout her school years she cheated without compunction

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of compunctions Johnson clearly felt no such compunctions. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 Russia and Ukraine show no compunctions about killing the civilians of their enemy. — Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025 The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions. — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compunctions

Noun

Any doubts over whether that deal would be concluded would have been banished as soon as Riad was taken off.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
In the past, Cofnas has expressed doubts about the intellectual abilities of Blacks in comparison to whites.

— Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of doubts

Noun

If Declan Rice is not yet ready to start, Arteta will have no qualms about using Lewis-Skelly in his place.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
No such qualms for IEA, whose membership is dominated by suburban teachers whereas a third of IFT’s membership are Chicago teachers.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of qualms

Noun

Bessent's remarks came as Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drew objections from other European leaders.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Recently, Capifali helped guide the Johnson administration through a tiff with aldermen who legalized video gambling terminals over the mayor’s objections.

— Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of objections

Noun

Hilton rejects the argument floated by some of his former colleagues that his scruples became a casualty of his ambition.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Still, there are some smart, well-meaning voices of caution who warn Democrats against forgetting their scruples.

— Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026

Definition of scruples

Noun

There will be controversy, grift and venality, supporters will get lost and lose themselves in a fog of legalese, accounting and abbreviations — VAR, SCR, LOL, FFS — there will be ugliness and misgivings and a lot of meh.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
And Tommy John himself had misgivings about being the name and face of the surgery.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of misgivings

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compunction

compunctions

compunctious

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“Compunctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compunctions. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of compunctions

noun

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