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

My only qualm here was the edges of the filmed footage have been sharpened away by gleamingly untroubled animation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Michigan wasn’t the only school expressing qualms over the deal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, often a critical vote in politically charged cases, voiced qualms about both sides’ positions, leaving his ultimate views unclear.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

England back row Ben Earl says he would have no qualms about starting a Test match in the centres after being touted for a possible switch into the backline.

Read more on BBC

He adopts as his own, without qualms, the lies that Israel has engaged in organized famine and genocide.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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