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
scruples 1 of 3
noun (1)
1
as in little
a very small amount went about her business without even a scruple of suspicion Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- little
- sprinklings
- hints
- glimmers
- specks
- splashes
- touches
- suspicions
- bits
- licks
- traces
- sparks
- shadows
- shreds
- dabs
- crumbs
- driblets
- soupçons
- smacks
- particles
- drams
- shades
- ounces
- slivers
- handfuls
- flecks
- mites
- peanuts
- streaks
- rays
- strains
- pinches
- nips
- bites
- spatters
- aces
- smidgens
- smidgeons
- smells
- dashes
- scintillas
- spots
- minimums
- smidgins
- drops
- vestiges
- smidges
- semblances
- tastes
- grains
- minims
- snaps
- whits
- skoshes
- parts
- drops in the bucket
- doses
- molecules
- iotas
- syllables
- minima
- fragments
- morsels
- portions
- granules
- scraps
- dots
- motes
- jots
- atoms
- nibbles
- flyspecks
- patches
- flakes
- chips
- shivers
- modicums
- hoots
- sections
- nubbins
- splinters
- shards
- smatters
- tatters
- smatterings
- handsful
- scatterings
- tittles
- shavings
- parings
- smithereens
- clippings
- shots
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quantities
- masses
- piles
- loads
- lots
- heaps
- bushels
- mountains
- deals
- messes
- gobs
- bundles
- scads
- buckets
- rafts
- abundances
- wealths
- oodles
- barrels
- pecks
- excesses
- stacks
- reams
- fistfuls
- wads
- boatloads
- lashings
- volumes
- embarrassments
- much
- superfluities
- profusions
- surpluses
- potfuls
- lashins
- overmuch
- passels
- plenties
- overflows
- overages
- bonanzas
- slabs
- lumps
- hunks
- surfeits
- chunks
- superabundances
- oversupplies
- overkills
- overabundances
2
as in specks
a very small piece left just a scruple of asparagus on the plate Synonyms & Similar Words
- specks
- particles
- flecks
- scraps
- bits
- grains
- crumbs
- mouthfuls
- snippets
- patches
- slivers
- molecules
- suspicions
- morsels
- granules
- atoms
- motes
- fragments
- bites
- licks
- drops
- flyspecks
- nuggets
- whispers
- traces
- dribbles
- nubbins
- snips
- dashes
- fractions
- tastes
- pinches
- shreds
- minims
- portions
- tittles
- halfpence
- shards
- driblets
- whits
- ounces
- touches
- nibbles
- parts
- sections
- iotas
- streaks
- mites
- strains
- tidbits
- nutshells
- chips
- jots
- flakes
- smatters
- aces
- splinters
- shivers
- smidgens
- dabs
- halfpennies
- smidgeons
- ha'pennies
- spots
- modicums
- smidgins
- smidges
- clippings
- haets
- shavings
- kennings
- titbits
- parings
- smithereens
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quantities
- slabs
- masses
- lumps
- chunks
- gobs
- hunks
- piles
- volumes
- loads
- heaps
- bushels
- mountains
- deals
- pots
- abundances
- rafts
- buckets
- barrels
- stacks
- scads
- wealths
- profusions
- pecks
- wads
scruples
2 of 3noun (2)
as in doubts
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
- doubts
- qualms
- compunctions
- objections
- misgivings
- regrets
- guilts
- remorses
- consciences
- suspicions
- questions
- reluctances
- skepticism
- uncertainties
- reservations
- distrust
- reluctances
- mistrust
- indispositions
- misdoubts
- remonstrances
- repentances
- protests
- demurs
- dubieties
- incertitudes
- self-reproaches
- shames
- contritions
- disinclinations
- aversions
- penitences
- fusses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- convictions
- confidences
- assurances
- certitudes
- certainties
- self-confidences
- aplombs
scruples
3 of 3verb
as in hesitates
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
- hesitates
- falters
- debates
- vacillates
- balances
- hangs back
- wabbles
- wavers
- dithers
- pauses
- staggers
- waits
- delays
- wobbles
- halts
- hems
- shilly-shallies
- haws
- sways
- deliberates
- lingers
- teeters
- procrastinates
- ponders
- hedges
- equivocates
- dawdles
- backs down
- weighs
- dallies
- pussyfoots
- waffles
- considers
- oscillates
- chickens (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dives (in)
- decides
- plunges (in)
- stirs
- advances
- continues
- budges