compunction

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French, from Late Latin compunctionem (“a pricking”), from Latin compunctus, the past participle of compungere (“to severely prick”), from com- + pungere (“to prick”).

• IPA^(key): /kəmˈpʌŋk.ʃən/

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• Rhymes: -ʌŋkʃən

compunction (countable and uncountable, plural compunctions)

1. A pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting.
   • 1857, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, book 2, chapter 6:

     [H]e would have had no compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city.

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 3, in Dracula:

     I felt no compunction in doing so, for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could.

   • 1920, D. H. Lawrence, chapter 8, in Women in Love:

     But he felt, later, a little compunction. He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione. He wanted to recompense her, to make it up.

   • 2003 February 16, Blaine Greteman, "No Peace Dividend," Time:

     As for average U.S. consumers, they've shown little compunction about buying diamonds that fund bloody militias in Africa.

• regret, remorse, qualm
• See also Thesaurus:remorse

• contrition
• penitence, penance
• guilt