Scruples

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Moral considerations or doubts that inhibit actions | Feelings of guilt or hesitation regarding ethical decisions | Concerns about the morality of one's actions that affect decision-making
  2. Ethical reservations or concerns that influence choices
  3. Doubts related to right and wrong that affect behavior

Etymology: The concept of scruples originally referred to a small, sharp stone—something that could prick or cause discomfort. This literal meaning comes from the Latin word "scrupulus," a diminutive form of "scrupus," meaning a sharp stone or pebble. The image of such a tiny, uncomfortable object was metaphorically extended to describe a feeling of unease or hesitation, especially in moral or ethical matters. By the late Middle Ages, the term had evolved in English to signify an uneasy feeling about the rightness of an action, essentially a moral doubt or hesitation. This shift from a physical prick to a psychological one neatly captures how language often draws on tangible experiences to express abstract ideas. The earliest recorded uses in this sense appear in the 15th and 16th centuries, when ethical and religious concerns were central to daily life and discourse. Over time, the word came to denote not just any hesitation but a very specific kind: the conscience-driven doubt that might prevent a person from doing something they perceive as wrong. This sense is closely tied to the idea of conscience itself, suggesting an internal check, a mental "prick" that stops one from acting against one's moral code. The plural form is often used to describe these moral qualms collectively. The journey of this word from a literal sharp stone to a metaphor for ethical unease reflects a broader pattern in language where physical sensations become metaphors for emotional or mental states. It captures how closely human experience ties bodily sensation to the workings of conscience and decision-making.

Synonyms: qualms, hesitations, doubts, misgivings, conscience

Antonyms: certainty, confidence, assurance, conviction, disregard