Spanish Conversation · Level 57
74 words
Spanish word
escrúpulo
Pronunciation
IPA/esˈkɾupulo/
Meaning
- masculine nounqualm
Example
Sus escrúpulos le impidieron mentir.
His qualms prevented him from lying.
More examples
Aprovechó la oportunidad porque no tenía escrúpulos.
He took advantage of the opportunity because he lacked scruples.
Core concept
Pebble underfoot making each step hesitant.
Common phrases
tener escrúpulos
have qualms
sin escrúpulos
without scruples
carecer de escrúpulos
lack scruples
Similar words
remordimiento: Deep regret and painful self-reproach about a past action.
culpa: Feeling morally at fault or responsible for having done wrong.
duda: Uncertainty about whether something is right, producing indecision.
Definition in Spanish
Sentimiento de inquietud o reparo moral que impide o retrasa la acción cuando se considera que ésta puede ser inmoral o incorrecta.
Word origin
Derives from Latin scrupulus 'small sharp stone', using the image of a pebble's discomfort to describe a conscience that causes moral hesitation and sharing roots with English scruple.
Usage tips
- Spanish commonly uses the plural escrúpulos and expresses moral qualms with tener escrúpulos para + infinitive, while escrupuloso normally means conscientious or meticulous.
Other meanings
- hesitationnoun
Opposites
- desvergüenzashamelessnessnoun
- inmoralidadimmoralitynoun
Related words
- escrupulososcrupulousadjective
- escrupulosidadscrupulousnessnoun
- escrupulosamentescrupulouslyadverb