ethical

adjective

ˈe-thi-kəl How to pronounce ethical (audio)
Definition of ethicalnext
1
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honest
following the accepted rules of moral conduct the ethical course of action for the senator who lied to Congress would be to resign

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in moral
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong ethical writers do not use the words of other writers without giving them proper credit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ethical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ethical are moral, noble, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When is moral a more appropriate choice than ethical?

The meanings of moral and ethical largely overlap; however, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When would noble be a good substitute for ethical?

Although the words noble and ethical have much in common, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When is it sensible to use righteous instead of ethical?

The words righteous and ethical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When might virtuous be a better fit than ethical?

While the synonyms virtuous and ethical are close in meaning, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ethical These men are so devoid of any semblance of ethical boundaries that even spending just two hours with them borders on insufferable. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 2 June 2025 This case raises highly complex legal and ethical questions, such as who makes the decision about whether to continue or withdraw supportive measures if the patient is pregnant. —Katherine Drabiak, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025 Panel will highlight a case study showing one filmmaker’s path: from encountering an ethical dilemma to the library’s potential for helpful resources to resolution. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 May 2025 For an eco-conscious approach, look for brands that use sustainable fabrics and promote ethical production practices. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethical
  1. honorable
  2. honest
  3. moral
  4. true
  5. respectable
  6. conscientious
  7. nice
  8. good
Adjective
  • The comparison with Lexus is honorable but not accurate.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • We were honored because our parents were honorable.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • Because spontaneous conversations are harder in a hybrid environment, actively create spaces for honest discussions.
    — Ayaskant Sarangi, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Players appreciated such an honest approach during the Euro 2022 campaign, which garnered mutual respect and trust.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • By integrating care ethics into institutional frameworks, VSS can foster environments where individuals feel valued and connected, addressing the moral vocation of belonging in a world facing existential threats (registration required) like climate change.
    — Yujia Zhu, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • And more than any other animal, cats represented to her its moral antithesis: lazy, pompous, interested only in themselves.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
Definition of moral
Adjective
  • The formula for ‘true tackles’ is slightly more long-winded: tackles + challenges lost + fouls committed.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • The young man is at a crossroads between pursuing shallow, glitzy easy money, or being true to his emotional and artistic muses.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2025
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Even among more respectable children’s literature from its time, Peter was a thoughtful creation, his architects never hesitating to use his famous credo: With great power comes great responsibility.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • The Nasdaq Composite had a slightly better session, closing at a respectable 0.32%.
    — Paolo Confino, Fortune, 4 June 2025
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • Jeff seems to be both the most conscientious and deplorable character.
    — Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • This will be a huge advantage to my clients that can’t find enough hourly warehouse workers, or workers that are conscientious enough to track quantities in this manner.
    — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • From the outside, Lyons’s house is a textbook Baltimore row home with a modest porch made for relaxing on a nice day or having a smoke while you people-watch.
    — Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 28 May 2025
  • Wilson completed a pass to Dee Eskridge, who made a nice one-handed catch with cornerback Kendall Sheffield in coverage.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • The win was the fifth in a row for Detroit and 20th in its last 28 games, and raised its division-leading record to 35-21, good for a .655 winning percentage.
    — Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
  • What about clubs leveraged to the sky by private individuals – is that good?
    — Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Definition of good

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Cite this Entry

“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethical. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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