compunction
[kuh m-puhngk-shuh n]
- a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
- any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.
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Origin of compunction
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
conscience, pity, ruth, penitence, shame, repentance, reluctance, misgiving, contrition, sympathy, remorse, qualm, attrition, rue, punctiliousnessExamples from the Web for compunction
Contemporary Examples
He had been audited when he was out of office, and now he had no compunction about using his power as president.
This is a man who has traveled to Iran and China with no compunction.
Penn State students, however, have shown no compunction about buying up as many season tickets as possible.
Penn State's Economic Fallout: Will the Sandusky Scandal Sink a Whole City?Matthew Zeitlin
July 17, 2012
When I get them alone, I have no compunction about blowing them to bits.
Today, however, ambitious politicians feel no compunction at launching initial campaigns as strangers and newcomers.
Historical Examples
His tone was filled full to overflowing with compunction as he answered.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Hers was not the nature to spare him, and she had no compunction.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Mr. Don rises, wincing, and Dick also is at once on his feet, full of compunction.
Echoes of the WarJ. M. Barrie
But the minister, filled with compunction, took her up in his arms.
Salted With FireGeorge MacDonald
A sudden feeling of shame brought with it one of compunction.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
compunction
- a feeling of remorse, guilt, or regret
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Word Origin
C14: from Church Latin compunctiō, from Latin compungere to sting, from com- (intensive) + pungere to puncture; see point
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for compunction
n.
mid-14c., from Old French compunction (12c., Modern French componction), from Late Latin compunctionem (nominative compunctio) "remorse; a pricking" (of conscience), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin compungere "to severely prick, sting," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + pungere "to prick" (see pungent). Used in figurative sense by early Church writers. Originally a much more intense feeling, similar to "remorse," or "contrition."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper