moral 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmȯr-əl How to pronounce moral (audio)
Definition of moralnext
1
as in ethical
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue the kind of moral behavior that is expected of everyone in the parish's youth organization

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honorable
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong a moral decision to refrain from sexual relations until after marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moral

2 of 2

noun

as in principle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective moral differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of moral are ethical, noble, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When is ethical a more appropriate choice than moral?

The synonyms ethical and moral are sometimes interchangeable, but ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When might noble be a better fit than moral?

Although the words noble and moral 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

In what contexts can righteous take the place of moral?

In some situations, the words righteous and moral are roughly equivalent. However, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When could virtuous be used to replace moral?

While the synonyms virtuous and moral 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 moral
Adjective
Humans crave a singular leader who will give them a blueprint to enter heaven and relieve them of moral responsibility for their destiny. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025 Many left the profession early due to emotional exhaustion, family and personal health concerns, unsafe staffing ratios, moral injury and lack of institutional support. —Kymberlee Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
Yet the moral of Phaedrus’ fable of the soldier-cinaedus is that such deceptive appearances and actions might actually be strategically successful in military matters. —Tom Sapsford, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025 The moral of the story is to build or use additional safety layers to mitigate someone penetrating your network. —Gil Dabah, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moral
  1. ethical
  2. honorable
  3. principle
  4. honest
  5. conscientious
  6. value
  7. true
  8. theory
Adjective
  • Many organizations are actively working on ethical AI frameworks to address bias and ensure fair, transparent decision-making processes.
    — Chaitanya Laxminarayana, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The ethical lines are blurry and the decision-making is messy, but totally thrilling.
    — Annabel Gutterman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • Of course, Greg/Gary is an honorable guy who would never bankrupt Belinda to teach her a lesson about greed and blackmail.
    — Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Some Union soldiers attended the event, and two Union officers delivered orations, each focusing on the topic of reconciliation between the honorable foes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of honorable
Noun
  • Articulate openly and transparently why these principles are fundamental to the operating culture, particularly when under scrutiny or attack.
    — Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Emergent behavior is the principle of a superorganism.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of principle
Adjective
  • This accountability between sustainability initiatives and resilience among uncertainty is sparking more honest conversations, leading to more realistic goal setting and, ultimately, more meaningful progress.
    — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The album is raw, honest, and deeply personal—a sonic letter to women and their stories, both told and untold.
    — Nour Ezzedine, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • That dissonance is a function of how eating less meat has been wrapped in a conscientious and moral sheen.
    — Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Emily is a conscientious worker who is constantly evaluating her performance and setting ever higher goals.
    — Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of conscientious
Noun
  • Wier initially didn’t receive credit for her connection series in the routine, lowering the start value.
    — Henry Chappell, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
  • No matter the event, the value always comes back to the relationships between the members and the emphasis on uncovering the value of a holistic approach to ambition and a life well lived.
    — Kody Boye, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of value
Adjective
  • Arguing that the Smithsonian somehow misleads people, somehow is unpatriotic, somehow is saying things that are not true.
    — Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
  • That versatility is, in a lot of ways, the true beauty of unicorns.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of true
Noun
  • That’s just a theory, not a spoiler or even a prediction.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of theory

Browse Nearby Words

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moral
moralism
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Cite this Entry

“Moral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moral. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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