amoral

play

adjective amor·al \(ˌ)ā-ˈmȯr-əl, (ˌ)a-, -ˈmär-\

Definition of amoral

1a : having or showing no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong amoral politicians an amoral, selfish personb : being neither moral nor immoral; specifically : lying outside the sphere to which moral judgments apply Science as such is completely amoral. — W. S. Thompson
2 : being outside or beyond the moral order or a particular code of morals amoral customs

amoralism

play \-ə-ˌli-zəm\ noun

amorality

play \ˌā-mə-ˈra-lə-tē, ˌa-, -(ˌ)mȯ-\ noun

amorally

play \ˌā-ˈmȯr-ə-lē, (ˌ)a-, -ˈmär-\ adverb

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Recent Examples of amoral from the Web

In that moment, the nerd in me was transported to Westeros, to an increasingly amoral society, unmoored from its traditions and full of entitled and ambitious men and women who compete for power with unrestrained viciousness.

— david french, National Review, "A Game for Our Time," 16 July 2017
Though there's some irony overkill via a roving madman quoting various American presidents between scenes, the story avoids easy moralizing and overwrought symbology, ultimately asking us to ponder interpersonal responsibility in an amoral world.

— Chicago Reader, "The School for Lies, At the Table, and seven more new stage shows to see now," 6 July 2017
And there’s a chance that mass protests may actually make some of the party’s moderates (and/or amoral pragmatists) more eager to do their leadership’s bidding.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Obama Begs Senate GOP Not to Hurt Millions Just to Spite Him," 22 June 2017
There are lot of downsides to electing an amoral, xenophobic demagogue with a history of borrowing large sums of money from Russian banks and a (related?) fondness for Vladmir Putin.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Russia Vows to Target U.S.-Backed Aircraft in Western Syria," 19 June 2017
That's exactly the kind of empty, amoral, entirely performative politics that can lead to disaster.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Why Elected Officials Need to Stop the Performance Politics," 15 June 2017
Mr. Owens lends weary, granitic power, but the moral — that is to say, amoral — center is provided by Christopher Purves, who plays the bitter, grasping Alberich as chillingly human.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: The Philharmonic Makes Wagner’s Gods Chillingly Human," 2 June 2017
Kissinger is both celebrated as a realist statesman and reviled as an amoral meddler in the affairs of foreign countries.

— amanda erickson, Washington Post, "The strange Oval Office meeting between Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak," 10 May 2017
Yet beyond the horror, the true insight is that intense curiosity about the world is amoral.

— jeff vandermeer, The Atlantic, "When Talking Canines Took Over New York," 9 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amoral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.