qualm
qualm
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "qualm" is:
/kwɑːm/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
kwɑːm:
/kw/ - a combination of the "k" and "w" sounds, as in "quick"
/ɑː/ - a long "ah" sound, similar to the "a" in "father"
/m/- the "m" sound.
Word Form Variations
Noun:
"qualm" (singular): This refers to a feeling of doubt, worry, or unease.
"qualms" (plural): This refers to multiple instances of such feelings.
Additionally, there are related forms:
Adjective:
"qualmish": This describes someone who is prone to qualms or who feels slightly sick.
Adverb:
"qualmishly": relating to the adjective qualmish.
Noun:
"qualmishness": relating to the adjective qualmish.
It's also worth noting that, historically, "qualm" has also been used as a verb, but this usage is now considered obsolete.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun (qualm/qualms)
Definition:
A feeling of unease, doubt, or apprehension, especially regarding a moral or ethical decision.
A sudden, brief feeling of faintness or nausea.
Synonyms:
Uneasiness, misgiving, scruple, hesitation, doubt, reservation, anxiety, pang of conscience.
Nausea, sickness, faintness.
Antonyms:
Certainty, confidence, assurance, conviction, peace of mind, composure.
Adjective (qualmish)
Definition:
Prone to experiencing qualms; having a tendency to feel uneasy or morally doubtful.
Also, easily nauseated or prone to feeling sick.
Synonyms:
Scrupulous, uneasy, hesitant, doubtful, squeamish, queasy, nauseous, sickish.
Antonyms:
Unscrupulous, confident, resolute, decisive, steady, robust.
Adverb (qualmishly)
Definition:
In a manner characterized by qualms or uneasiness.
In a manner that shows nausea.
Synonyms:
Hesitantly, doubtfully, scrupulously, uneasily, squeamishly, nauseously.
Antonyms:
Confidently, resolutely, decisively, steadily.
Noun (qualmishness)
Definition:
The state or quality of being qualmish.
The state of being nauseous.
Synonyms:
Scrupulousness, uneasiness, hesitation, doubt, squeamishness, nausea.
Antonyms:
Certainty, resolve, robustness.
Examples of Use
In News and Online Publications:
"Despite his qualms, Trump was unable to counter the concerted drive by public-health officials to impose social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic..."1 (Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine) This demonstrates "qualm" used in the context of political and social debate, highlighting feelings of doubt or reservation.
"And Stewart had some qualms about how she was presented in the film." (Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire) This shows the word used in entertainment news, referring to concerns about portrayal.
"However, the commerce chief has no qualms about the move." (Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune) This example shows the use of "no qualms" to indicate a lack of hesitation or moral objection in a business context.
"Some of the qualms from NFL teams are with Jackson's build." (Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal) This is an example of the word being used in sports reporting.
In Literature and General Discourse:
The use of "qualms" to indicate moral reservations is common in fictional literature, where characters grapple with difficult decisions.
In everyday conversation, people might say, "I have some qualms about accepting this job offer," expressing their doubts.
"She had no qualms about borrowing her friend's clothes without asking." This is a common way to use the word in general conversation, displaying a lack of moral hesitation.
Key Observations:
"Qualm" is frequently used in the negative form ("no qualms") to emphasize a lack of hesitation or moral objection.
The word retains its connection to feelings of unease, whether moral, ethical, or even physical.
The word is used in a very wide variety of publications, and conversations.
10 Famous Quotes Using Qualm
"I have no qualm of conscience, no gnawing of regret, for I have done what I thought was right." — Theodore Roosevelt
"Conscience is that still, small voice that has been known to make men feel qualms in the midst of triumph." — Mark Twain
"Without a qualm or hesitation, he rushed into folly." — William Shakespeare, Othello
"I never had a qualm about writing, only about not writing." — Isaac Asimov
"There is no qualm so heavy as the qualm of silence when truth is needed." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"No qualm of fear should prevent us from doing what we know must be done." — Winston Churchill
"The qualms of youth are often the seeds of wisdom in age." — Henry David Thoreau
"I had not a single qualm in rejecting the offer; some choices make themselves." — Charles Dickens
"To act without qualm is not bravery but folly." — Søren Kierkegaard
"The statesman must act with prudence, but never with the qualm of cowardice." — Edmund Burke
Etymology
Essentially, the word "qualm" has a bit of a murky past. It's origin is somewhat uncertain.
Here's what we know:
Uncertain Origins:
The word's origins are debated. It's believed to have originated in the middle 16th century.
It is thought to have possibly derived from or been influenced by Middle English words such as "qualmish" or other similar sounding words.
It is also thought to have possibly come from a Germanic root, however, there is not a clear and certain trail.
Early Meanings:
The earliest known uses of "qualm" were related to feelings of sickness or faintness, a sudden attack of illness. So, it originally had a very physical connotation.
Over time, the meaning shifted to include feelings of unease or doubt, particularly about moral or ethical matters. This shift likely occurred because the physical feeling of sickness can be similar to the emotional feeling of unease.
Evolution of Meaning:
So, the word started with a more physical meaning and then evolved to have a more psychological and moral meaning. This is a common pattern in language, where words expand their meanings over time.
In short, "qualm" started with a sense of sickness, and then expanded to include the feeling of uneasy doubt we know today. Because the origins are not definitively known, there are some theories, but no concrete evidence that points to one specific origin.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Qualm
Why "Qualm" Isn't Idiomatic:
Specificity:
"Qualm" describes a nuanced feeling of doubt or unease, not a broad action or concept. Idioms tend to be more about general actions or situations.
Formal Tone:
While not overly formal, "qualm" is slightly more formal than many words used in everyday idioms.
Phrases and Workarounds:
"To have qualms about..."
This is the most common phrase. Example: "I have qualms about accepting this gift." It's a straightforward way to express reservations.
"Without qualms" or "No qualms"
This is another frequently used phrase, indicating a lack of hesitation or moral objection. Example: "She accepted the offer without qualms."
"A pang of qualm"
This is a less common, but still acceptable phrase.
Using Synonyms in Idioms:
Since "qualm" itself is limited, we can use synonyms to create similar idiomatic expressions.
"To have second thoughts": This is a very common idiom expressing doubt, similar to having qualms.
"To have a nagging doubt": This idiom expresses a persistent feeling of unease.
"To have a guilty conscience": This idiom implies a moral qualm.
"To be on the fence": This idiom expresses indecision, which is often linked to qualms.
Original Phrases:
"A qualm-ridden decision": this phrase could be used to describe a decision that was made with much hesitation.
"The qualm of the morning": this phrase could be used metaphorically, to describe a feeling of unease that comes with the start of a new day.
"To swallow a qualm": this phrase could be used to describe the act of ignoring a feeling of unease.
"To give one pause"
This is a phrase that indicates a moment of hesitation, or doubt. This is very closely related to having a qualm.
In Summary:
While "qualm" itself doesn't feature in many traditional idioms, we can effectively express similar meanings using synonyms and related phrases.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of qualm from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
