compunction

[ kuhm-puhngk-shuhn ]

noun

1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.

compunction

/ kəmˈpʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of remorse, guilt, or regret

Derived Forms

• comˈpunctiously, adverb
• comˈpunctious, adjective

Other Words From

• com·punction·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compunction¹

1350–1400; Middle English compunccion (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin compūnctiōn- (stem of compūnctiō ), equivalent to Latin compūnct ( us ), past participle of compungere to prick severely ( com- com- + pungere to prick; point ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of compunction¹

C14: from Church Latin compunctiō, from Latin compungere to sting, from com- (intensive) + pungere to puncture; see point

Example Sentences

In Washington, Gluesenkamp Perez has had no compunction separating herself from her party.

From Los Angeles Times

If progressive-minded Christians are divided about combining religion and politics, those on the Christian Right have far less compunction over imposing their beliefs on others as a matter of public policy, claiming that America is and should be a Christian nation-state.

From Salon

“Where Trump has absolutely no compunction at going to the basest level he can to try to get a result, I saw Joe moving into that very reluctantly,” Mr. Burris said.

From New York Times

Gehlen and the FHO had no computers, but they did have access to 4 million Soviet POWs from all over the USSR, and no compunction about torturing them to learn the names of Jews and Communist officials in their hometowns to compile kill lists for the Gestapo and Einsatzgruppen.

From Salon

He stopped short of accusing Kyiv directly, but on Sunday, some of his allies showed no such compunction.

From New York Times