conscience-stricken

[ kon-shuhns-strik-uhn ]

adjective

1. greatly troubled or disturbed by the knowledge of having acted wrongfully.

conscience-stricken

adjective

1. feeling anxious or guilty Alsoconscience-smitten

Word History and Origins

Origin of conscience-stricken¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Sounds like a certain conscience-stricken assassin with a protective side and a buck-the-rules lawman searching for the truth should find a friendly middle ground, which, in Woo’s trademarked visual signaling, means weapons drawn face to face but firing past each other’s heads to kill the real threat.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of those who did get out were rescued only by the initiative of conscience-stricken troops and diplomats in Kabul, and by a loose network of tireless volunteers working around-the-clock stateside.

From Washington Post

It’s to this rigorously intellectual and self-questioning filmmaker’s credit that he doesn’t present these parts of his oeuvre as anything but conscience-stricken stabs at making sense of it all.

From Los Angeles Times

Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often been.—Mr.

From Literature

“You can put your own things on your own table, if you prefer,” began May, feeling a little conscience-stricken, as she looked at the pretty racks, the painted shells, and quaint illuminations Amy had so carefully made and so gracefully arranged.

From Literature