adjective
- feeling or showing remorse or guilt; regretful
Usage: formal; literary
Examples
- She felt compunctious about lying to her parents.
- His compunctious expression revealed his deep regret.
- The judge noted the defendant’s compunctious attitude during sentencing.
- After the argument, he became compunctious and apologized.
- Her compunctious tears showed genuine remorse for her actions.
- The compunctious criminal confessed to additional crimes.