scruple
1 of 3noun (1)
scru·ple ˈskrü-pəl 
1
: a unit of capacity equal to ¹/₂₄ Apothecaries' ounce see Weights and Measures Table
2
: a minute part or quantity : iota
scruple
2 of 3noun (2)
1
: an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action
2
: the quality or state of being scrupulous
3
: mental reservation
scruple
3 of 3verb
scrupled; scrupling ˈskrü-p(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to have scruples
2
: to show reluctance on grounds of conscience : hesitate
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- ace
- bit
- crumb
- dab
- dram
- driblet
- glimmer
- hint
- lick
- little
- mite
- nip
- ounce
- particle
- peanuts
- ray
- scintilla
- shade
- shadow
- shred
- skosh
- smack
- smell
- smidgen
- smidgeon
- smidgin
- smidge
- snap
- soupçon
- spark
- spatter
- speck
- splash
- spot
- sprinkling
- strain
- streak
- suspicion
- tad
- touch
- trace
Noun (2)
- compunction
- misgiving
- qualm
Verb
- balance
- dither
- falter
- halt
- hang back
- hesitate
- shilly-shally
- stagger
- teeter
- vacillate
- waver
- wobble
- wabble
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb a tabloid journalist who has never scrupled to reveal the most intimate details about the lives of celebrities
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English scrupil, scriple, from Anglo-French scruple, from Latin scrupulus a unit of weight, diminutive of scrupus sharp stone
Noun (2)
Middle English scripil, scrupill, from Anglo-French scruble, from Latin scrupulus, diminutive of scrupus source of uneasiness, literally, sharp stone
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
scruple
noun
scru·ple ˈskrü-pəl
1
: a sense of right and wrong that keeps a person from doing something bad
2
: a feeling of guilt from doing something bad
Medical Definition
scruple
noun
scru·ple ˈskrü-pəl
: a unit of apothecaries' weight equal to 20 grains or ¹/₃ dram or 1.296 grams
scrupled
verb
as in hesitated
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
Relevance
- hesitated
- faltered
- hung back
- vacillated
- debated
- wabbled
- waited
- dithered
- paused
- wavered
- staggered
- halted
- balanced
- swayed
- wobbled
- teetered
- lingered
- shilly-shallied
- hemmed
- dawdled
- pondered
- deliberated
- procrastinated
- hawed
- equivocated
- delayed
- considered
- weighed
- backed down
- dallied
- hedged
- waffled
- oscillated
- pussyfooted
- chickened (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decided
- plunged (in)
- continued
- stirred
- dived (in)
- dove (in)
- advanced
- budged