compunctious
Stricken by conscience
Compunctious means feeling or showing compunction—a sense of guilt, remorse, or unease about having done something wrong.
The word is rare and literary, most familiar from Shakespeare's "compunctious visitings of nature" in *Macbeth*.
She felt no compunctious stirrings about the deception.
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- penitentOne showing remorse
- ruefulExpressing sorrowful repentance
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
conscience-stricken · regretful · ashamed · chagrined · mortified · abashed · sheepish · hangdog
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- expiationRedress for offense
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
confession · repentance · amendment · reparation · restitution · reconciliation · mea culpa · self-punishment
Moral reservations about acting
- moral qualmsEthical doubts or reservations
- inner voiceUnspoken mental dialogue
- pangsSudden sharp sensations
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
unease · hesitation · second thoughts · reservations · qualms · soul-searching · self-examination · nagging doubt
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- penitentOne showing remorse
- ruefulExpressing sorrowful repentance
sorrowful · conscience-stricken · regretful · ashamed · chagrined · mortified · abashed · sheepish · hangdog · red-faced
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- expiationRedress for offense
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
absolution · confession · repentance · amendment · reparation · restitution · reconciliation · mea culpa · self-punishment · self-condemnation
scruples
Moral reservations about acting
- moral qualmsEthical doubts or reservations
- inner voiceUnspoken mental dialogue
- pangsSudden sharp sensations
misgivings · unease · hesitation · second thoughts · reservations · qualms · soul-searching · self-examination · nagging doubt · guilty conscience
compunctiousunrepentant
Feeling no remorse
remorseless · impenitent · unapologetic · unremorseful · guiltless
compunctiousshameless
Lacking moral embarrassment
conscienceless · hardened · callous · brazen · unscrupulous
compunctiousruthless
Lacking any compassion
merciless · pitiless · cruel · compassionless · unmerciful