amoral

adjective

amor·al | \ (ˌ)ā-ˈmȯr-əl

How to pronounce amoral (audio)

, (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 person

b : 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

Other Words from amoral More Example Sentences Learn More about amoral

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Other Words from amoral

amoralism \ -ə-ˌli-zəm

\ noun

amorality \ ˌā-mə-ˈra-lə-tē

, ˌa- , -(ˌ)mȯ- \ noun

amorally \ ˌā-ˈmȯr-ə-lē

, (ˌ)a- , -ˈmär- \ adverb

Examples of amoral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By this time, the reader cannot help but admire Dirk, who is cut from the same cloth as those heroically amoral overreachers in Jacobean tragedy. — Michael Dirda, Washington Post, "‘Black Magic’ is an oft-overlooked thriller. Don’t overlook it.," 5 June 2019 Bobby Cannavale, as a grotesquely amoral middle manager, and Shea Whigham, as a Department of Defense investigator—both in supporting roles—are excellent, too. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, "The Unsettling, Paranoia-Inducing Homecoming Is Your Next TV Binge," 2 Nov. 2018 For a consumer, the difference between Gutenbergian editorial curation and Facebook’s algorithm is that between idealistic prescription and amoral prediction. — Antonio García Martínez, WIRED, "Facebook, Snapchat and the Dawn of the Post-Truth Era," 28 May 2018 The script traces the fragmentation of the wealthy, wretched, amoral Essenbeck family during the Nazi party’s rise to power. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "12 Plays and Musicals to Go to in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 12 July 2018 This is, alas, the Yahweh of the early Hebrews, a fickle, petulant, seemingly amoral deity whose childish obsession is with proving himself top banana in the pantheon of primitive gods. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction: A Depraved and Beautiful Dream of the World," 12 July 2018 The ex-husband is uncaring, amoral, self-assured, breezy, confident and a total louse, a convincing case of opposites attracting. — Mick Lasalle, Houston Chronicle, "Review: ‘Boundaries’ a trip to nowhere," 3 July 2018 Tess Thompson Talley from Nippa, Kentucky is a disgusting, vile, amoral, heartless, selfish murderer. — Hollie Mckay, Fox News, "American hunter's images of her black giraffe 'trophy kill' spark outrage," 1 July 2018 Priest's philosophical debate with Eddie has been eliminated, though echoes of it reverberate through the hero's amoral voice-over narration. — J.r. Jones, Chicago Reader, "Superfly rolls back the clock on African-American movie heroes," 21 June 2018

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.

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Last Updated

21 Jun 2019

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The first known use of amoral was in 1779

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