moral qualm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moral qualm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing feelings of doubt or unease regarding a moral issue or decision. Example: "She felt a moral qualm about lying to her friend, even if it was to protect her feelings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I don't understand what the moral qualm is".

The New York Times

But the play suffers from showing all 10 members of her fictional club as total shits: for the sake of good drama, one wishes at least one of them displayed some moral qualm about their actions.

The Guardian

Describing how he ingested PEDs without regret or moral qualm, Armstrong explained that he thought his doping regime was just another facet of his preparation, "like saying we have to have air in our tires or water in our bottles".

Huffington Post

Cohn also introduced Trump to the man who is now his campaign chair, Paul Manafort, the political consultant and lobbyist who without a moral qualm in the world has made a fortune representing dictators -- even when their interests flew in the face of human rights or official US policy.

Huffington Post

Of course, to be fair, no government came off very upright, as James Bond, M, and Felix Leiter seemed to be the only three people in the film with a moral qualm about the sinister goings on (and you could argue that James Bond didn't give a damn about the plight of Bolivia, but simply wanted Greene as a means to work his way up the Quantum food chain).

Huffington Post

Such situations are frequent and he certainly acknowledges the illegality of giving such advice, but, in complete support for his patients, he declares he does not have the slightest moral qualm.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But sometimes even I get moral qualms.

The New York Times - Arts

Do animal vandals feel any moral qualms?

The New York Times - Science

Even now, he has moral qualms about that form.

The Guardian

Clinton's heir, Al Gore, once had moral qualms about abortion.

The New York Times - Magazine

(To accommodate the moral qualms of conservative locals, the legislature relegated gambling to "navigable waters").

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "moral qualm" to precisely convey a feeling of unease or doubt specifically related to moral principles when evaluating a situation or action. For a stronger feeling use other words like "compunction" or "scruple" instead.

Common error

While "moral qualm" is a perfectly valid phrase, be mindful of its slightly formal tone. In casual conversation, consider using simpler alternatives like "feeling bad about it" or "having second thoughts" to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moral qualm" functions as a noun phrase, where "moral" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "qualm". It describes a feeling of unease or doubt related to moral principles, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moral qualm" effectively conveys a feeling of unease or doubt about a moral issue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While the phrase is more common in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, it’s crucial to consider the slightly formal tone when choosing simpler alternatives in more casual settings. Related phrases such as "ethical reservation" or "scruple" can be used to vary the expression. Remember to employ "moral qualm" when precision is required to denote specific moral concerns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ethical reservation

Emphasizes the ethical aspect, suggesting a formal or principled objection.

moral reservation

Similar to "moral qualm", but can suggest a more firm or decided objection.

ethical hesitation

Highlights the hesitation or uncertainty related to an ethical consideration.

moral hesitation

Similar to "ethical hesitation" but refers specifically to morals.

scruple

A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action.

compunction

A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.

remorse

Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.

conscience pang

A sudden sharp feeling of regret or distress caused by the awareness of guilt.

unease of conscience

A sustained feeling of discomfort due to moral concerns.

moral objection

A stated opposition based on moral principles.

FAQs

How can I use "moral qualm" in a sentence?

You can use "moral qualm" to describe a feeling of unease or doubt about the morality of an action or decision. For example, "She had a moral qualm about accepting the bribe".

What's the difference between "moral qualm" and "ethical dilemma"?

"Moral qualm" refers to a feeling of unease or doubt about a specific action, while "ethical dilemma" refers to a situation where there is no clear right or wrong choice between two conflicting moral principles.

What can I say instead of "moral qualm"?

You can use alternatives like "ethical reservation", "moral reservation", or "scruple", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "moral qualm" the same as having a "guilty conscience"?

Not exactly. A "moral qualm" is a feeling of doubt or unease before or during an action, whereas a "guilty conscience" is a feeling of regret or remorse after an action.