conscience
Meaning
Conscience refers to the inner sense of moral judgment that guides an individual's thoughts and actions, often invoking feelings of guilt or righteousness in response to ethical dilemmas; it is a complex interplay of personal beliefs, societal norms, and
💡 While "conscience" is often associated with personal moral judgment, it is important to distinguish it from mere social conformity; individuals may act against their conscience due to external pressures, highlighting the tension between personal ethics and societal expectations.
Example Sentences
Word in Context
When
Mia
noticed
the
cashier
had
given
her
too
much
change
,
she
paused
and
looked
at
the
coins
in
her
hand
.
The
shop
was
quiet
,
and
for
a
moment
she
weighed
the
small
benefit
against
the
certainty
that
keeping
the
money
would
trouble
her
conscience
.
Remembering
how
her
parents
always
emphasised
honesty
,
she
walked
back
to
the
counter
and
explained
the
mistake
calmly
.
The
cashier
thanked
her
,
smiling
with
relief
,
and
Mia
felt
unexpectedly
proud
for
acting
consistently
with
her
values
.
On
the
way
out
she
realised
that
such
simple
choices
shape
our
character
more
than
grand
gestures
ever
could
.
Common Phrases
moral conscience
collective conscience
conscience-stricken
Synonyms
Related Words
Never forget "conscience"
Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.