amoral

adjective

amor·​al (ˌ)ā-ˈmȯr-əl How to pronounce amoral (audio)
(ˌ)a-,
-ˈmär-
1
a
: 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
amoralism noun
amorality
ˌā-mə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce amoral (audio)
ˌa-
-(ˌ)mȯ-
noun
amorally
ˌā-ˈmȯr-ə-lē How to pronounce amoral (audio)
(ˌ)a-
-ˈmär-
adverb

Examples of amoral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The Morning Show pulls enough from contemporary news stories to resemble a 2020s update of The Newsroom, but with a funhouse-mirror slant toward the gleefully amoral rather than the Sorkin-ly preachy. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 2024 Building a lexicon around shame creates an easy dichotomy − one that separates foods, and our desire for them, into good and bad, sinful and pure, moral and amoral. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 One runs hot, brilliant, amoral, and insatiable; the other, deliberate and circumspect, cold and damp as some eyeless cave creature. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024 Neville is being more immediately threatened by the developer’s local thug, Egg (David St. Louis), completely amoral and frightening but with a lovely singing voice. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amoral 

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of amoral was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near amoral

Cite this Entry

“Amoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amoral. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

amoral

adjective
amor·​al ā-ˈmȯr-əl How to pronounce amoral (audio)
-ˈmär-
: not being moral nor immoral
amorally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on amoral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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