noun
compunction
Compunction (noun) means a brief pang of guilt or mild regret about something you have done.
noun
1
A brief pang of guilt or mild regret about something you have done.
"As for average U.S. consumers, they've shown little compunction about buying diamonds that fund bloody militias in Africa."
— Blaine Greteman, No Peace Dividend (2003)
"But he felt, later, a little compunction. He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione. He wanted to recompense her, to make it up."
— David Herbert Lawrence (1920)
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Etymology
Came into English via Middle English compunccion, borrowed from Old French compunction, from Late Latin compunctionem ("a pricking"), from Latin compunctus, the past participle of compungere ("to severely prick"), from com- plus pungere ("to prick").
Related words
Rhymes for compunction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for compunction →
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of compunction?
"compunction" (noun) means a brief pang of guilt or mild regret about something you have done.
What is another word for compunction?
Other words for "compunction" include contrition, rue, misgiving, regret, penitence, remorse.
