Qualm

Kwawm

/kwɑːm/ (British) | /kwɑːm/ or /kwɔːm/ (American)

Noun

Meaning

A qualm is a feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct.
It can also refer to a sudden feeling of sickness or nausea.

Examples

She had no qualms about speaking her mind during the meeting.
I felt a sudden qualm of guilt after making that decision.
He ate the street food without any qualms, even though it looked risky.
A qualm of dizziness hit her as she stood up too quickly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms	Antonyms
Doubt Misgiving Uneasiness Concern Reservation Apprehension Hesitation Second thoughts	Confidence Assurance Certainty Conviction

Word Forms

Qualms (plural)
Qualmish (adjective — rare)
Qualmishly (adverb — very rare)

Origin / Etymology

The term originated in the early 16th century. Derived from Old English cwealm meaning “pain, death, or destruction,” which later shifted to refer to sudden sickness or discomfort and eventually mental uneasiness.

Grammar Information

Countable noun.
Often used in plural form: “I have no qualms about it.”

Translations

Hindi: संकोच / शंका
Spanish: duda / escrúpulo
French: scrupule / doute
German: Bedenken / Gewissensbiss
Italian: scrupolo / dubbio
Chinese (Mandarin): 疑虑 (yílǜ)
Arabic: قلق / شك
Japanese: 不安 (fuan) / 良心の呵責 (ryōshin no kaseki)

Idioms & Phrases

Have no qualms about – to feel no doubt or hesitation.
Example: He has no qualms about raising his voice when necessary.