a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.

a very small portion or amount.

a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1 / 3 of a dram, apothecaries' weight.

an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1 / 24 of an ounce or 1 / 288 of an as or pound. Compare as 2 ( def. 2 ) .

to have scruples.

to have scruples about; hesitate at.

noun

ignorance , negligence , unconcern

verb

not care

noun

anxiety , caution , censor , compunction , conscience , demur , difficulty , faltering , hesitancy , hesitation , pause , perplexity , qualm , reconsideration , reluctance , reluctancy , second thought * , squeamishness , superego , twinge , uneasiness , misgiving , reservation , crumb , dab , dash , dot , dram , drop , fragment , grain , iota , jot , minim , mite , modicum , molecule , ort , ounce , particle , scrap , shred , smidgen , speck , tittle , trifle , whit , doubt , meticulosity , peculiarity , penitence , punctiliousness , scrupulosity , suspicion , twenty grains , wait , wavering

verb

be loath , be reluctant , be unwilling , boggle , demur , doubt , falter , fret , gag , have qualms , hesitate , question , shy , stick , stickle , stumble , think twice about , vacillate , waver , worry , anxiety , balk , conscience , iota , misgiving , part , pause , qualm , reluctance , uneasiness , weight