SCRUPLE Synonyms: 245 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'scruple' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scruple are compunction , demur , and qualm . While all these words mean "a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do," scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle. // no scruples against buying stolen goods

Q: In what contexts can 'compunction' take the place of 'scruple'?

The meanings of compunction and scruple largely overlap; however, compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim. // had compunctions about lying

Q: Where would 'demur' be a reasonable alternative to 'scruple'?

Although the words demur and scruple have much in common, demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence. // accepted her decision without demur

Q: When could 'qualm' be used to replace 'scruple'?

The synonyms qualm and scruple are sometimes interchangeable, but qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment. // no qualms about plagiarizing

scruple 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskrü-pəl

Definition of scruple

as in shred

a very small amount went about her business without even a scruple of suspicion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in speck

a very small piece left just a scruple of asparagus on the plate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scruple

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in doubt

an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do the survey showed that many students had few scruples about cheating on papers or exams

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scruple

3 of 3

verb

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action a tabloid journalist who has never scrupled to reveal the most intimate details about the lives of celebrities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun scruple differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scruple are compunction, demur, and qualm. While all these words mean "a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do," scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle.

no scruples against buying stolen goods

In what contexts can compunction take the place of scruple?

The meanings of compunction and scruple largely overlap; however, compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim.

had compunctions about lying

Where would demur be a reasonable alternative to scruple?

Although the words demur and scruple have much in common, demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence.

accepted her decision without demur

When could qualm be used to replace scruple?

The synonyms qualm and scruple are sometimes interchangeable, but qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment.

no qualms about plagiarizing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of scruple

Noun

Colonial authorities regularly questioned their character, scruples, and business practices; Grietje and Anthony returned the favor. — Literary Hub, 14 May 2026 And like any good femme fatale, Maddy is given savvy at the expense of moral scruple. — The Editors, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026 But we’re invited to see him as, despite these foibles, amusing and retaining, and his cynicism about everything and his lack of moral scruple is—actually, we’re invited to see this as a kind of higher wisdom. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 But the squirrelly, middle-aged guy at the weird surplus store in northern Florida had no such scruples. — Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scruple

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scruple

Noun

There’s yet to be a shred of evidence that Belichick can build and guide North Carolina’s roster into the kind of behemoth that can go on the road in the ACC, play poorly and win by double digits while barely being threatened with a loss.

— David Ubben, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Without a shred of evidence, Cloud casually weaponized domestic violence allegations against a fan who was simply cheering for his home team.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of shred

Noun

The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.

— Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of speck

Noun

Complicating things is the current Administration, which has mastered the art of using those message-delivery systems to spread doubt and discontent and suspicion.

— Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Beset with doubts and periods of blockage, Krasner had to find constantly ways to move on and pursue a trajectory that was all her own, all while facing Pollock’s larger-than-life.

— John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of doubt

Verb

While its lawyers have not hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to AI companies, Disney is among the big media companies looking for ways to get in the AI game and profit from its boom.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Please have a plan in place should flash flooding develop and do not hesitate to act.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Noun

That question motivated Clark to better understand aging among plants and animals and to look for hints to extend humans' lifespan.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Until this glorious fall Saturday afternoon gave way to the hints of early evening, Indiana football — once the losingest team in all of college football — hadn’t tasted their ordinary helping of defeat for 666 days.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hint

Noun

Highly energetic particles in the solar wind may also have reached the comet in sufficient numbers to heat its surface.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Avoid this by not touching the rash and keeping it covered, as the fluid inside the shingles blisters is what contains the infectious particles.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of particle

Verb

This week a deal for Volta Infrastructure faltered as investors feeling full-up on data center debt demanded higher yields.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Even where efforts to build democratic institutions have faltered, as after the Arab Spring, liberal ideas have nonetheless persisted and expanded.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of falter

Browse Nearby Words

scrunching

scruple

scrupled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scruple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scruple. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scruple

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

8 Words for Small Amounts

How many scruples in a dram?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on scruple

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of scruple

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to scruple

8 Words for Small Amounts

How many scruples in a dram?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on scruple

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes