Synonyms for scruple
- noun
- verb
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Qualm — hesitation to act from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; doubt, hesitation or…
qualm, misgiving, doubt, hesitation, reluctance, objection, question, hesitancy
2. Particle — A very small quantity; a particle
particle, delicacy, ounce, iota, bit, speck, pinch, fleck, modicum, shred, grain, scrap, jot, mote, strain, smidge, tittle, spot, dot, atom, dab, mite
Verb
Definitions
- n. 1
Hesitation to act from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; doubt, hesitation or unwillingness due to motives of conscience; moral qualm.
- n. 2
A very small quantity; a particle.
- v. 1
To hesitate or be reluctant to act due to considerations of conscience or expedience.
They wouldn't scruple to cheat us if given the opportunity.
Related words
- Word family
- scrupulosity scrupulous scrupulously scrupulousness
Choose the right word
Scruple relates to matters of conscience and duty.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- doubt There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt.
- hesitation Mary jumped into the icy water without hesitation.
- qualm He did not have any qualm of conscience.
- misgiving Tom's misgiving has come true.
- ounce An ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept.
- delicacy Fried spiders are a regional delicacy in Cambodia.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| scruple | steady | |
| doubt | steady | |
| hesitation | rising | |
| qualm | rising | |
| misgiving | steady | |
| ounce | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bit1, dot1, dab1, jot1
- 4 letters
- spot1, atom2, mite1, iota3, mote1
- 5 letters
- doubt1, stick1, grain1, scrap1, ounce1, pinch1, shred1, speck1, waver2, fleck1, qualm, demur2
- 6 letters
- strain1, falter2, tittle2, smidge, boggle2
- 7 letters
- modicum3, stickle2
- 8 letters
- question2, particle3, hesitate3, delicacy4
- 9 letters
- objection3, hesitancy4, misgiving3, escropulo, escrupulo
- 10 letters
- hesitation4, reluctance3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (atom2 = 2 syllables).