WorldAugust 8, 2026

compunction

kum-PUNK-shun

Definition

A feeling of guilt, moral scruple, or regret that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'compungere,' meaning to prick or sting; it historically refers to the 'pricking' of conscience, suggesting a sharp, internal feeling of guilt.

In the news

Frimet Roth notes that former justice minister Meir Sheetrit expressed no compunction when he openly admitted to the public that the government withheld intelligence about a looming terror attack, showing a total lack of remorse or hesitation about that disclosure.

Sbarro bombing 25 years later: Family fights for justice and extradition

Read the full article ↗

The Jerusalem Post

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