compunction

[kuhm-puhngk-shuhn]

noun

1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.

2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.

compunction

/ kəmˈpʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of remorse, guilt, or regret

Other Word Forms

• compunctionless adjective
• compunctiously adverb
• compunctious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compunction¹

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; point ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of compunction¹

C14: from Church Latin compunctiō, from Latin compungere to sting, from com- (intensive) + pungere to puncture; see _point

Example Sentences

And he has shown that he will have no compunction about doing just that.

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Party leader Olivier Faure said that he would have no compunction about supporting a new vote of censure, if offending parts of the budget are not removed.

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They have zero compunctions about murdering anyone in their way, including a pregnant woman.

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They are part of nature, and therefore something that can be mined without compunction.

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He has no compunction about violating treaty commitments or ripping up trade agreements, even deals he negotiated himself.

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