conscience

• Das innere Bewusstsein oder Gefühl für Recht und Unrecht, das das Handeln eines Menschen und seine Beurteilung des eigenen Verhaltens leitet. Es umfasst sowohl das moralische Gewissen als auch das Bewusstsein moralischer Verantwortung.

A noun referring to an inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's actions and feelings about their own behavior.

1. Moral senseB2formal

   An inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's actions or motives, urging one to do good.

   Gewissen

   • He followed his conscience and returned the lost wallet.
   • She had a guilty conscience after telling the lie.
   • A clear conscience is a sign of a good heart.

   Synonymecompunctionmoral sensesense of right and wrong

2. Sense of guiltB2informal

   A feeling of guilt or regret about something one has done.

   Schuldgefühl

   • His conscience bothered him for days after the argument.
   • She had a bad conscience about not helping her friend.
   • The thief's conscience eventually made him confess.

   Synonymecompunctioncontritionguiltremorseself-reproach