In literature, compunctious is employed to convey a character’s delicate sense of guilt or remorse, an inner moral hesitation that often colors both thoughts and actions. Authors use the term to capture moments when a character is suddenly struck by conscience—a "stab" of regret that may lead to self-reproach or a reflective pause in behavior [1],[2]. It appears in varied moods, from the subdued, almost timorous glances that betray remorse [3],[4] to full expressions of ethical discomfort that prevent a character from ignoring the weight of past misdeeds [5],[6]. At times, the word is rendered with a subtle irony, suggesting that the outward display of compunction may be as nuanced and conflicted as the inner turmoil it signifies [7],[8],[9].