qualm

[kwahm, kwawm]

noun

1. an uneasy feeling or pang of conscience as to conduct; compunction.

   He has no qualms about lying.

2. a sudden feeling of apprehensive uneasiness; misgiving.

   a sudden qualm about the success of the venture.

3. a sudden sensation or onset of faintness or illness, especially of nausea.

qualm

/ kwɑːm /

noun

1. a sudden feeling of sickness or nausea

2. a pang or sudden feeling of doubt, esp concerning moral conduct; scruple

3. a sudden sensation of misgiving or unease

Other Word Forms

• qualmishness noun
• qualmish adjective
• qualmishly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualm¹

First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualm¹

Old English cwealm death or plague; related to Old High German qualm despair, Dutch kwalm smoke, stench

Example Sentences

Regularly, economic crises were said to cause Americans to “question free-market capitalism” or “the American dream”—qualms that seemed to be the exhibition’s own.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s a team that has no qualms about aggressively pushing the limits of its story as well as the patience of its audience.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Still, she has no qualms about accepting the invitation of the Rock Hall, which in the last few years has significantly diversified its ranks and its leadership along race and gender lines.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mikkelsen, of the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, said he has no qualms about persevering, even in the face of such federal setbacks.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

English rugby, which has seen plenty of rebrands and title sponsors since the dawn of professionalism, has no such qualms.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• anxiety 
• apprehension 
• disquiet 
• hesitation 
• misgiving 
• nervousness 
• objection 
• pang 
• reluctance 
• remorse 
• twinge 
• unease 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com