conscience
noun
con·science
ˈkän(t)-shən(t)s 
1
a
: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good
She had a guilty conscience.
b
: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts
guided by conscience
c
: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego
2
: conformity to what one considers to be correct, right, or morally good : conscientiousness
3
: sensitive regard for fairness or justice : scruple
a wealthy man with no conscience
4
archaic
: consciousness
Examples of conscience in a Sentence
… it is a politician's natural instinct to avoid taking any stand that seems controversial unless and until the voters demand it or conscience absolutely requires it.
—
Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
We like to imagine literature as the still, small voice of human conscience. It is that only rarely, however. Actively and passively, it has always borne along pernicious ideas.
—Marilynne Robinson, New York Times Book Review, 15 Mar. 1987
So she had lied to him, but so had he to her, they were quits on that score and his conscience was calm.
—Bernard Malamud, The Magic Barrel, (1950) 1958
The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency …
—E. B. White, Charlotte's Web, 1952
The thief must have had an attack of conscience, because he returned the wallet with nothing missing from it.
Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
We like to imagine literature as the still, small voice of human conscience. It is that only rarely, however. Actively and passively, it has always borne along pernicious ideas.
—Marilynne Robinson, New York Times Book Review, 15 Mar. 1987
So she had lied to him, but so had he to her, they were quits on that score and his conscience was calm.
—Bernard Malamud, The Magic Barrel, (1950) 1958
The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency …
—E. B. White, Charlotte's Web, 1952
The thief must have had an attack of conscience, because he returned the wallet with nothing missing from it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Each of these, including his latest — the courtroom drama with a conscience Juror #2 — are marked by a steadfast professionalism, a steady hand and an interest in old-fashioned types of storytelling usually gilded with questions.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024
Much of the new movie’s power comes from Culkin’s Benji, a filterless character who’s both provocative and vulnerable — a kind of conscience id — and his comedic friction with Eisenberg’s strait-laced David.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024
With his conscience clear, Owen finally rode atop the wild steed, triumphantly emerging from a barn that burned down due to a gas leak.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024
Any fellow conservative of conscience should condemn this in the strongest terms.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for conscience 
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024
Much of the new movie’s power comes from Culkin’s Benji, a filterless character who’s both provocative and vulnerable — a kind of conscience id — and his comedic friction with Eisenberg’s strait-laced David.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024
With his conscience clear, Owen finally rode atop the wild steed, triumphantly emerging from a barn that burned down due to a gas leak.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024
Any fellow conservative of conscience should condemn this in the strongest terms.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for conscience
Articles Related to conscience
Dictionary Entries Near conscience
Cite this Entry
“Conscience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscience. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
conscience
noun
con·science
ˈkän-chən(t)s
: knowledge of right and wrong and a feeling one should do what is right
Medical Definition
conscience
noun
con·science
ˈkän-chən(t)s
: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego
Legal Definition
conscience
adjective
con·science
: exempting persons whose religious beliefs forbid compliance
conscience laws, which allow physicians…to refuse to participate in abortions—W. J. Curran
W. J. CurranLove words? Need even more definitions?
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