Synonyms for qualm

Grammar : Noun

Spell : kwahm, kwawm

Phonetic Transcription : kwɑm, kwɔm

Top 10 synonyms for qualm

Other synonyms for the word qualm

Définition of qualm

Origin : Old English cwealm (West Saxon) "death, murder, slaughter; disaster; plague; torment," utcualm (Anglian) "utter destruction," probably related to cwellan "to kill, murder, execute," cwelan "to die" (see quell). Sense softened to "feeling of faintness" 1520s; figurative meaning "uneasiness, doubt" is from 1550s; that of "scruple of conscience" is 1640s.
Evidence of a direct path from the Old English to the modern senses is wanting, but it is plausible, via the notion of "fit of sickness." The other suggested etymology, less satisfying, is to take the "fit of uneasiness" sense from Dutch kwalm "steam, vapor, mist" (cognate with German Qualm "smoke, vapor, stupor"), which also might be ultimately from the same Germanic root as quell.

noun nagging doubt

Example sentences :

He had put her aside without a qualm; and now he met her announcement with approval.
Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

I feel no qualm in saying that his exit was more hasty than his approach.
Extract from : « Adventures and Recollections » by Bill o'th' Hoylus End

Yet I had no qualm of fear, no doubt, even, touching the issue.
Extract from : « Bardelys the Magnificent » by Rafael Sabatini

Then I shall be able, without a qualm, to send Godfrey to the workhouse.
Extract from : « The Red Hand of Ulster » by George A. Birmingham

Ma Tamby did not know what it is to have a qualm—which she could not have spelled if she had known.
Extract from : « The Paliser case » by Edgar Saltus

He felt that he could kill Bruce Browning without a qualm of conscience.
Extract from : « Frank Merriwell's Cruise » by Burt L. Standish

And the salve to the qualm was always the same remembrance that the deed had not been done yet.
Extract from : « Cousin Henry » by Anthony Trollope

But the deed was not yet done, and the qualm was kept under, and he slept.
Extract from : « Cousin Henry » by Anthony Trollope

These go about their work without one spark of pity, one qualm of ruth.
Extract from : « The Sign of the Spider » by Bertram Mitford

Every gust of wind that rumbled in the chimney sent a qualm to his heart.
Extract from : « Fort Desolation » by R.M. Ballantyne

Antonyms for qualm

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019