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Gewissensbiss

pang of conscience; twinge of guilt

noun ge-VIS-sens-bis Rare
People & Society Values

Usage Note

Gewissensbiss (usually plural: Gewissensbisse) describes the discomfort felt when one has acted against one's own moral standards. It is a common everyday word — keine Gewissensbisse haben means to feel no remorse — and spans ethical and religious contexts.

Examples

"Er gab das gefundene Geld zurück, weil er sonst Gewissensbisse gehabt hätte."

Natural Translation

He returned the money he had found because otherwise he would have had a guilty conscience.

Literal Translation

He gave back the found money because he otherwise would have had conscience-bites.

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