scruples
C1Formal, literary, educated discourse.
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of doubt or hesitation about the morality or propriety of a course of action; a moral or ethical consideration that restrains one's behaviour.
A person's moral principles or sense of right and wrong, especially when they cause hesitation or restraint. Can also refer to the specific instances of such hesitation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a plural noun ('scruples'). The singular 'scruple' is rare and often refers to a specific instance of doubt. The word implies a finely-tuned, sometimes overly sensitive, conscience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly old-fashioned or formal in both varieties. May carry a subtle connotation of being principled, but can also imply being overly fussy or hesitant.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, but understood by educated speakers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have [no/few/any] scruples about + -ing/noundo sth without scruple/scruplesovercome one's scruplesscruples prevent sb from doing sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have no scruples about (doing) sth”
- “a man/woman of no scruples”
- “pangs of scruple”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in discussions of business ethics, e.g., 'The merger raised serious scruples among the board members.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, ethics, and literature discussing moral dilemmas and character.
Everyday
Less common in casual chat. Used when discussing a person's character or a difficult moral decision.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields outside of ethical reviews or professional conduct discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He did not scruple to use underhand tactics to win the contract.
- She would scruple at telling even a white lie.
American English
- They didn't scruple to fire employees without cause.
- A true journalist scruples to verify every source.
adverb
British English
- The report was scrupulously accurate and fair.
- He scrupulously avoided any conflict of interest.
American English
- She scrupulously adhered to the terms of the agreement.
- The property was scrupulously maintained.
adjective
British English
- He was scrupulous in his accounting, checking every figure twice.
- She gave the instructions with scrupulous attention to detail.
American English
- The lawyer was scrupulous about client confidentiality.
- We followed the recipe with scrupulous care.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is an honest man with strong scruples.
- She had no scruples about taking the last piece of cake.
- His religious scruples prevented him from working on the Sabbath.
- The politician, having few moral scruples, accepted the bribe without hesitation.
- Pangs of scruple assailed her after she had manipulated the data, though her career benefited immensely.
- The novelist's characters are often tormented by ethical scruples that seem anachronistic in the cutthroat world she depicts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SCRUPLE sounding like 'screw-pull' – imagine your conscience pulling you back, screwing up your plan to do something wrong.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCRUPLES ARE A RESTRAINING FORCE (weights, chains, a hand on the shoulder). SCRUPLES ARE A MEASURING DEVICE (a finely calibrated scale for morality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'скрупулёзный' (scrupulous), which means 'meticulous' or 'painstakingly careful', not 'having moral doubts'. The Russian adjective derives from a different sense of the Latin root.
- The noun 'scruples' is best translated as 'угрызения совести', 'моральные принципы', or 'сомнения' depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular countable noun in modern English (e.g., 'I have a scruple' is archaic).
- Confusing 'scruples' (noun) with 'scrupulous' (adjective).
- Misspelling as 'scrubles' or 'scruppels'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'scruples'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is rare and often sounds archaic or literary (e.g., 'not a scruple of guilt'). The plural form 'scruples' is standard for referring to one's moral sense.
'Conscience' is the inner, general sense of right and wrong. 'Scruples' are the specific instances of doubt or the principles derived from conscience that cause hesitation about particular actions.
Yes, it can imply integrity and a strong moral compass. However, it can also be used pejoratively to suggest someone is overly fussy, hesitant, or impractical in their morality.
No, the verb is formal and relatively uncommon in modern speech. It is more often encountered in literary or historical contexts.