scruples

American  

[skroo-puhlz] / ˈskru pəlz /

noun

1. the plural of scruple; moral or ethical considerations or standards that act as a restraining force or inhibit certain actions.

   He has no scruples about sacrificing a friend to save his own hide.

   The shop was without scruples about using the competition's advertisements against them.

   Her scruples about drinking assuaged, she decided to order some wine.

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Etymology

Origin of scruples

First recorded in 1520–30; scruple ( def. ) + -s ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Employees in these movies come to the conclusion their boss lacks scruples, boundaries or the qualifications to have the job.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some may have otherwise been stolen by Western visitors with less scruples to be sold on the lucrative European and American artefacts market.

From BBC

At the start of the play, he’s a war hero with conspicuous scruples.

From Los Angeles Times

“Nevertheless, the State’s capacity to legislate pursuant to its own moral scruples is necessarily curbed by the Kansas Constitution and its Bill of Rights.”

From Seattle Times

And if they don’t have the moral scruples that you do, they’ll just keep them.

From New York Times

Related Words

• ethic
• integrity
• morality