qualm
Say it: KWAHM /kwɑm/ · noun
What “qualm” means
A sudden doubt about whether something is right.
More precisely: A sudden feeling of doubt or unease, especially about whether something is right.
Example: “She had no qualms about turning down the badly paid project.”
When to use it
Use it for a small pang of doubt, especially about doing something questionable. It often appears in the plural, qualms.
Similar words
misgiving, reservation, scruple
Quick check
You are about to keep money you found, then suddenly wonder whether that would be wrong. What is that doubt?
a grudge or a qualm?
Show the answer
a qualm
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