Qualm: meaning, definitions and examples
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qualm
[ kwäm ]
feeling
A feeling of uneasiness or doubt, often about one's own actions or a moral issue.
Synonyms
hesitation, misgiving, scruple
Examples of usage
- I had a qualm about lying to my friend.
- She felt a qualm of guilt after cheating on the test.
medical
A sudden feeling of sickness or faintness.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She experienced a sudden qualm and had to sit down.
Translations
Translations of the word "qualm" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mal-estar
- dúvida
- inquietação
🇮🇳 शंका
🇩🇪 Bedenken
- Unbehagen
- Zweifel
🇮🇩 keraguan
🇺🇦 занепокоєння
- сумнів
- тривога
🇵🇱 niepokój
🇯🇵 不安
- 疑念
- 心配
🇫🇷 scrupule
- inquiétude
- doute
🇪🇸 escrúpulo
- duda
- inquietud
🇹🇷 kuşku
- rahatsızlık
- endişe
🇰🇷 불안
🇸🇦 قلق
🇨🇿 pochybnost
🇸🇰 pochybnosť
🇨🇳 疑虑
🇸🇮 dvom
🇮🇸 efasemdir
🇰🇿 күдік
🇬🇪 ეჭვი
🇦🇿 şübhə
🇲🇽 escrúpulo
- duda
- inquietud
Etymology
The word 'qualm' originated in Middle English from the Old English word 'cwealm', meaning 'death' or 'destruction'. Over time, its meaning evolved to represent feelings of uneasiness or sickness. The modern usage of 'qualm' reflects a sense of moral discomfort or physical discomfort. The word has been used in English literature for centuries to convey a sense of internal conflict or sudden illness.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #33,245 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
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