: a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety
had no qualms about asking for their help
It was about an enduring secular world where people did unspeakable things, seemingly without qualm and without any grave consequences to themselves. Jim Holt
2
: a sudden feeling of usually disturbing emotion (such as doubt or fear)
I had a qualm of absolute horror, and shuddered; and then the emotion was immediately repressed or suppressed. Oliver Sacks
3
: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea
The doctor seemed seized with a qualm of faintness. Robert Louis Stevenson
Etymologists are not sure how qualm came to be, but early use of the word is for a sudden sick feeling. It then was used for a sudden attack of emotion. Today, qualm usually refers to a feeling of uneasiness, particularly in not following one's conscience or better judgment.
qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment.
no qualms about plagiarizing
scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle.
no scruples against buying stolen goods
compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim.
had compunctions about lying
demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence.
accepted her decision without demur
Example Sentences
He accepted their offer without a qualm. she has no qualms about downloading pirated music files from the Internet
Recent Examples on the WebOne qualm is that the existing laws governing the dignity realm are said to be somewhat nebulous and overly malleable, thus not well-tuned to the specific legal construct of a right of exception. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 The only qualm was with how easily the sheets wrinkle, but that’s not a dealbreaker for us. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 My only qualm is that the pockets, which are very stretchy with large openings, are not very secure—my phone once fell dangerously close to a pee puddle.Outside Online, 24 June 2021 His main qualm is with the $7,500 student loan cap workers can get to earn credentials in fields like logistics, construction and IT. Casey Smith, chicagotribune.com, 28 Dec. 2021 Another qualm relates to the number of miles of driving on your neighborhood streets. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2021 One qualm is that this can lead to RVs packed together like sardines. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2021 Most folk, out-take Nack, reckoned the qualm was a tale the priests wrought up to wring out our silver. Clair Wills, The New York Review of Books, 16 Jan. 2020 Yet another qualm is that people might misbehave while traveling inside a self-driving car. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 May 2021 See More