misgiving, compunction & qualm

[panicmonger]

I listed these 3 words in the order of guiltiness as follows:
1. misgiving
2. qualm
3. compunction
Is my order correct?
Thanks no end.

 

[abaka]

I listed these 3 words in the order of guiltiness as follows:
1. misgiving
2. qualm
3. compunction
Is my order correct?
Thanks no end.

Qualm is definitely stronger than misgiving, but compunction is difficult to place. It's a rare word, which perhaps makes it even stronger than qualm. On the other hand, the strict dictionary definition makes it sound like a momentary misgiving, which would make it the weakest of the three.