a heavy conscience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a heavy conscience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a feeling of guilt or remorse. For example, "I carried a heavy conscience after lying to my best friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the novel stalled at thirteen pages, in part because I had a heavy conscience.

The New Yorker

She breezed right by the Ramona character ("Her religion is sex, a welcome relief from Madeleine's phony conversion . . . but Herzog is too divided in his mind, too busy with resentment to free himself from a heavy conscience. Besides he is suspicious of pleasure, having learned Julien Sorel's lesson," and so on).

The New Yorker

So now I am living with a heavy conscience".

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That Mr. Gardner died by firing squad — a method he chose over lethal injection — has left her with an even heavier conscience.

The New York Times

It's a place where the ghosts of abused inmates and staff with heavy consciences roam the halls, moving equipment and slamming doors.

BBC

To her knowledge only the third novel ever to tackle the genocide of "Year Zero", it carried a heavy burden of historical conscience, posing a question that has become central to her literary project: "If a person erases him or herself in order to survive, how can they find that self again?

The Guardian - Books

In addition to a heavy weight on your conscience, you may have to share the frying pan with your supervisor if the misconduct is discovered.

Science Magazine

But a strong conscience and a heavy sense of justice not a need for money keep him going.

Forbes

It has since become a heavy burden on Republicans' collective conscience.

Huffington Post

Commenting on his unsuccessful search, Hume wrote that the hundreds of house sparrows he killed in pursuit of the Sind sparrow "ought to form a heavy load" on Blyth's conscience, and that if the Sind sparrow existed "it would be only decent for it... to put on an appearance with as little delay as possible".

Wikipedia

In a single night, the European conscience has taken a heavy blow.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a heavy conscience", ensure the context clearly indicates the source of the guilt or remorse. For example, specify the action or event that is causing the person to feel burdened.

Common error

Avoid vagueness when describing why someone has "a heavy conscience". Ensure the sentence clarifies the specific actions or inactions causing the guilt, not just general feelings of remorse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a heavy conscience" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a state of being burdened by guilt or remorse. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a heavy conscience" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey feelings of guilt or remorse. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it accurately describes a state of being burdened by one's actions. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across diverse sources, including news, science, and general knowledge platforms. When employing the phrase, it's crucial to provide contextual clarity regarding the cause of the burden. Alternatives, such as "a guilty conscience" or "a burdened conscience", offer subtly different shades of meaning, allowing for nuanced expression of moral and ethical unease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a burdened conscience

Replaces "heavy" with "burdened", emphasizing the weight of the conscience.

a guilty conscience

Directly states the feeling of guilt, simplifying the expression.

a troubled conscience

Suggests inner turmoil and unease due to one's actions.

a weight of guilt

Emphasizes the burden of guilt, using a more direct noun phrase.

a remorseful heart

Shifts focus from conscience to the heart, highlighting the emotional aspect of regret.

a moral burden

Focuses on the ethical aspect of the burden, highlighting a sense of responsibility.

carrying the burden of guilt

Expresses the ongoing nature of feeling guilty through the active verb "carrying".

laden with guilt

Uses "laden" to convey being heavily burdened with guilt, adding a sense of being overwhelmed.

a sense of culpability

Uses a more formal and legalistic term for feeling responsible for wrongdoing.

a soul weighed down by guilt

More poetic and emphasizes the profound impact of guilt on one's soul.

FAQs

How can I use "a heavy conscience" in a sentence?

You can use "a heavy conscience" to describe someone who feels guilt or remorse for their actions. For example: "After lying to her friend, she carried "a heavy conscience" for weeks".

What does it mean to have "a heavy conscience"?

To have "a heavy conscience" means that you are feeling a strong sense of guilt or regret because of something you have done or failed to do. It implies a burden of moral responsibility.

What are some alternative phrases for "a heavy conscience"?

Alternatives include "a guilty conscience", "a burdened conscience", or "a troubled conscience". These all convey a similar sense of moral or ethical discomfort.

Is it correct to say "a heavy conscience"?

Yes, the phrase "a heavy conscience" is a correct and commonly understood expression in English to describe a feeling of guilt or remorse.