scruple
noun
a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
scrupled
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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
Some instances had occurred in which this prohibition had been disregarded; and upon these occasions the over-zealous Protestants had not scrupled to take the law into their own hands.
From Life of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume I (of 2) by Henry Glassford Bell
It was a card he would not have scrupled to play.
From The Shadow of the Past by F.E. Mills Young
But he has done this, and he has not scrupled to tell me so, and to intimate that he would like the opportunity of cultivating your good graces.
From Cynthia Wakeham's Money by Anna Katharine Green
