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. )

Explanation

Having scruples is kind of like having a conscience: your morals or scruples cause you to act in ways you think are right. The idea of scruples has to do with ethics and morality: what is right and wrong. If you had no scruples at all, you'd just kill, steal, cheat, and do God knows what else. Scruples are a kind of moral compass that lets you know what's right. Often people use this word in an outraged way when someone does something bad: "Don't you have any scruples?" Liars, thieves, criminals, and politicians have fewer scruples than the rest of us.

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 • Nov. 29, 2025

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 • Sep. 21, 2024

Executives at established tech giants might have their own honest scruples about where all of this is heading.

From Slate • Nov. 27, 2023

“But despite the LSBA’s scruples, Boudreaux has still identified some examples of non-germane speech.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2023

He had suffered some complicated scruples about this kiss: but had decided in the end that it was permissable.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• ethic
• integrity
• morality