scruple
noun
a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
scrupled
-
past participleof scruple.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof scruple.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
scruplenouna moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
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.
Though Antonin fashions himself as a tormented literary protagonist — a scrupled thief and a thwarted artist — he emerges as little more than a posturing, self-pitying millennial unwilling to take charge of his life.
From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2023
The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at Mr. Wickham’s charge, exceedingly shocked her; the more so, as she could bring no proof of its injustice.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
His reputation has been steadily on the increase of late, and some of his enthusiastic admirers have not scrupled to call him the "French Bach."
From Masters of French Music by Arthur Hervey
His speech was a sad disappointment to those trade-rivals who have not scrupled to attribute his silence to cowardice or incompetence.
From Punch, or The London Charivari, Vol. 150, May 31, 1916 by Various
That wretched book-binder had not scrupled to substitute a new and valueless score for my beloved copy, and had doubtless sold the original, with Gounod's autograph and annotations, to some collector for a pretty sum.
From Memoirs of an American Prima Donna by Clara Louise Kellogg
