qualm
Twinge of conscience
A qualm is a sudden feeling of uneasiness or doubt, especially about whether an action is right: She had no qualms about lying to protect her friend.
Qualms suggest moral hesitation rather than practical concern—a twinge of conscience.
The word almost always appears in the plural: Despite his qualms, he signed the contract.
Internal moral sense
- scrupleMoral doubt or hesitation
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
compunction · morality · virtue · honor · rectitude · righteousness · uprightness · probity
State of being unsure
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
distrust · hesitation · questioning · incredulity · wariness · apprehension · ambivalence · second-guessing
Mild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
foreboding · worry · disquiet · uneasiness · agitation · perturbation · edginess · restlessness
Disinclination to act
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisionFailure to decide
second thought · unwillingness · doubt · vacillation · faltering · holding back · cold feet · reticence
conscience
Internal moral sense
integrity · compunction · morality · virtue · honor · rectitude · righteousness · uprightness · probity · decency
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
suspicion · distrust · hesitation · questioning · incredulity · wariness · apprehension · ambivalence · second-guessing · reluctance
unease
Mild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
discomfort · foreboding · worry · disquiet · uneasiness · agitation · perturbation · edginess · restlessness · jitters
reluctance
Disinclination to act
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
indecision · second thought · unwillingness · doubt · vacillation · faltering · holding back · cold feet · reticence · demurral
- skepticismdoubt, skeptic, doubts, debunker, doubtful
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, skepticism
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- distrustmistrust, suspicion, doubt, wariness, skepticism
- worriesworry, concern, fear, anxiety, apprehension
qualmclear conscience
Freedom from moral guilt
approval · moral certainty · self-righteousness · conviction · guiltlessness
qualmconfidence
Self-assurance or trust
certainty · conviction · assurance · certitude · sureness
qualmcomfort
Ease or soothing relief
ease · peace of mind · tranquility · serenity · peace
- moral qualmsEthical doubts or reservations