compunction
Americannoun
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a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
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any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compunction
1350–1400; Middle English compunccion (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin compūnctiōn- (stem of compūnctiō ), equivalent to Latin compūnct ( us ), past participle of compungere to prick severely ( com- com- + pungere to prick; cf. point) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When you feel compunction you feel very, very sorry, usually for something you did to hurt someone or mess something up. When you feel no compunction, you're not at all sorry. The noun compunction comes from the Latin verb compungere, meaning “prick sharply.” When you feel compunction, you feel a sharp prick of your conscience. The word compunction is often used in the negative in phrases like “without compunction” or "no compunction." You might say that the burglar acted without compunction when he stole your baseball card collection.
Vocabulary lists containing compunction
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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A Tale of Two Cities
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Compunction for having been the cause had never dawned on Isabel's mind.
From Dynevor Terrace: or, the clue of life — Volume 2 by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
Compunction laid its quick, warm hand on Scrap.
From The Enchanted April by Elizabeth
When Brutus unsheathed the reluctant Sword of Freedom against his Friend, Humanity must suppose that his Heart was wrung with Compunction, while his Country enjoined and impelled the Blow.
From An Essay on the Antient and Modern State of Ireland by Brooke, Henry
Compunction, kom-pungk′shun, n. uneasiness of conscience: remorse: regret: pity.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Compunction was one: you could touch him on the heart and bring him weeping to his knees; affection was another: if he loved the petitioner he yielded handsomely.
From The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay by Hewlett, Maurice Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
