Scruple

UK: /ˈskruːp^əl/ US: /ˈskrupəl/ ,(skro̅o̅′pəl)

Inflections of 'scruple' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

scruples

v 3rd person singular

scrupling

v pres p

scrupled

v past

scrupled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

scru•ple /ˈskrupəl/   n. 

1. a moral belief that holds back one's behavior or prevents one from doing certain actions:
   [countable] His scruples kept him from pocketing the money he had found on the floor.
   [uncountable] killing without scruple.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

scru•ple  (skro̅o̅′pəl), n., v., -pled, -pling. 
n. 

1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
2. a very small portion or amount.
3. Weights and Measures a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or ¹⁄₃ of a dram, apothecaries' weight.
4. Weights and Measures an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to ¹⁄₂₄ of an ounce or ¹⁄₂₈₈ of an as or pound. Cf. as ² (def. 2).

v.i. 

5. to have scruples.

v.t. 

6. to have scruples about;
   hesitate at.

• Latin scrīpulum (variant scriptulum) small weight, pebble, alteration of scrūpulus by association with scrīptum writing (see script; for sense relation compare gram)
• Latin scrūpulus unit of weight, worry, precaution equivalent. to scrūp(us) rough pebble + -ulus -ule; replacing earlier scriple, Middle English
• French scrupule)
• (1350–1400

scru′ple•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. qualm, compunction, restraint.
• 6. waver.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scruple / ˈskruːp^əl/ noun

1. (often plural) a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation
2. a very small amount
3. a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.296 grams)

verb

1. (obsolete when tr) to have doubts (about), esp for a moral reason

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin scrūpulus a small weight, from scrūpus rough stone