compunction

[kuh m-puhngk-shuh n]

See more synonyms for compunction on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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

Related formscom·punc·tion·less, adjective

Can be confusedcompulsion compunction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for compunction

conscience, pity, ruth, penitence, shame, repentance, reluctance, misgiving, contrition, sympathy, remorse, qualm, attrition, rue, punctiliousness

Examples from the Web for compunction

Contemporary Examples of compunction

He had been audited when he was out of office, and now he had no compunction about using his power as president.
IRS Audits, Benghazi, Sebelius: Obama’s Second Term Is Scandal Heaven
Eleanor Clift
May 14, 2013
This is a man who has traveled to Iran and China with no compunction.
Hawking's Bad Boycott Timing
Gil Troy
May 13, 2013
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.
Daniel Klaidman on the Mind of a Drone Strike Operator
Daniel Klaidman
June 8, 2012
Today, however, ambitious politicians feel no compunction at launching initial campaigns as strangers and newcomers.
Do Hometowns Matter? Why Politicians’ Geography Is Becoming Irrelevant
April 14, 2012

Historical Examples of compunction

His tone was filled full to overflowing with compunction as he answered.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Hers was not the nature to spare him, and she had no compunction.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
Mr. Don rises, wincing, and Dick also is at once on his feet, full of compunction.
Echoes of the War
J. M. Barrie
But the minister, filled with compunction, took her up in his arms.
Salted With Fire
George MacDonald
A sudden feeling of shame brought with it one of compunction.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for compunction

compunction

noun

a feeling of remorse, guilt, or regret

Derived Formscompunctious, adjectivecompunctiously, adverb

Word Origin for compunction

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for compunction

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."