a lack of conscience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lack of conscience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who does not have a sense of right and wrong or is indifferent to moral principles. Example: "His actions revealed a lack of conscience, as he showed no remorse for the harm he caused others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A drama of a lack of conscience.

The Guardian

With a lack of conscience so chilling it makes your skin crawl, Bateman makes no secret of his murders, yet throughout the novel his confessions are simply laughed off or misunderstood – as when his friend mistakes him saying "murder and executions" for "mergers and acquisitions" – with no hope of retribution.

The Guardian - Books

A lack of conscience can do wonders for your skin tone.

Huffington Post

The most important cognitive deficits after suffering an ABI are those related to attention, decrease of memory and learning capacity, worsening of scheduling and solving problems capacity, reduction of abstract thinking, communication problems, and also a lack of conscience of their own limitations.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Wrap your head around all the details, and try to identify whether there has been a lack of conscience, guilt, on your friend's part.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Being in the minority, he has no other choice". The Soviet trial judge is not the only one who has taken this attitude to indicate a lack of social conscience.

Stanford University

BET, treasured by some as the only channel devoted to black entertainment, is trashed by others for a lack of social conscience, a surfeit of off-color comedy and a predilection for music videos rife with flashy cars, abundant cleavage and gyrating derrieres.

Forbes

BET, treasured by some as the only channel devoted to black entertainment, is trashed by others for a lack of social conscience, a surfeit of crude comedy and a predilection for music videos rife with flashy cars, quivering cleavage and gyrating hips.

Forbes

2. The quality of care provided leaves much to be desired: contempt for the anonymous user, the extortion of money from patients, a lack of professional conscience, absenteeism, mismanagement of human resources, numerous shortcomings in managing inputs and stocks.

BMC Health Services Research

On the surface, our new big bad is Dryden, a man with a convenient lack of conscience who seems to have set up his former lover Denton in order to mastermind the murder of our man in witness protection – aka Tommy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"He had a complete lack of conscience about it".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lack of conscience" to describe systemic problems within institutions, implying a widespread ethical failure.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "a lack of conscience" with a simple lack of awareness. "A lack of conscience" implies a moral failing, while lack of awareness suggests ignorance or a misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lack of conscience" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes the absence of moral awareness or ethical judgment in a person or entity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lack of conscience" is a noun phrase used to describe the absence of moral principles or ethical considerations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and appropriateness for describing individuals or entities that demonstrate a disregard for right and wrong. While not extremely common, the phrase is used across various contexts, most notably in news and media, as well as in scientific and wiki sources. When using the phrase, be sure to distinguish it from "a lack of awareness", as the former implies a moral failing rather than simple ignorance. Related phrases such as "absence of scruples" or "moral deficiency" offer alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of scruples

This alternative replaces "conscience" with "scruples" indicating a moral or ethical consideration that restrains certain actions.

moral deficiency

This phrase uses a more direct term, "deficiency", to describe a shortage of morals or ethical principles.

ethical void

This alternative employs the metaphor of a "void" to emphasize the absence of ethical considerations.

lack of moral compass

This expression uses the metaphor of a compass to suggest a lack of guiding principles.

absence of moral restraint

This alternative highlights the absence of self-control driven by moral considerations.

want of ethical awareness

This phrase emphasizes the absence of understanding and sensitivity to ethical issues.

moral insensitivity

This choice indicates a failure to recognize or be affected by the moral implications of one's actions.

ethical blindness

This alternative uses 'blindness' as a metaphor for not being able to see ethical considerations.

absence of remorse

This option highlights the absence of regret or guilt for past actions.

callousness

This single-word substitute describes insensitivity and a lack of concern for the feelings of others.

FAQs

How can I use "a lack of conscience" in a sentence?

You can use "a lack of conscience" to describe a person or entity that does not seem to be guided by morals. For example, "The politician's actions demonstrated "a lack of conscience" when he accepted the bribe."

What's the difference between "a lack of conscience" and "a lack of awareness"?

"A lack of conscience" implies a moral deficiency and disregard for right and wrong. "A lack of awareness" /s/a+lack+of+awareness simply indicates a lack of knowledge or understanding.

What are some phrases similar to "a lack of conscience"?

Similar phrases include "absence of scruples", "moral deficiency", or "ethical void". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to describe someone as having "a lack of conscience"?

Yes, describing someone as having "a lack of conscience" is almost always negative. It implies a serious moral failing and a disregard for the well-being of others.