scruples

scru·ple

S0175100 (skro͞o′pəl)n.1. An uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tends to hinder action: "He would have taken any life with as little scruple as he took my money" (Charles Dickens).2. A unit of apothecary weight equal to about 1.3 grams, or 20 grains.3. A minute part or amount.intr.v. scru·pled, scru·pling, scru·ples To hesitate as a result of conscience or principle: "A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket" (John Dennis).

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[Middle English scrupul, from Old French scrupule, from Latin scrūpulus, small unit of measurement, scruple, diminutive of scrūpus, rough stone, scruple.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scruples - motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actionsconscience, moral sense, sense of right and wrongsuperego - (psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscienceethical motive, ethics, morals, morality - motivation based on ideas of right and wrongsmall voice, voice of conscience, wee small voice - an inner voice that judges your behaviorsense of duty, sense of shame - a motivating awareness of ethical responsibility