ethical

adjective

eth·i·cal ˈe-thi-kəl

variants or less commonly ethic

ˈe-thik

Synonyms of ethical next

: of or relating to ethics

ethical theories

: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval

ethical judgments

: conforming to accepted standards of conduct

ethical behavior

of a drug : restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription

ethicality

ˌe-thə-ˈka-lə-tē

noun

ethically

ˈe-thi-k(ə-)lē

adverb

ethicalness

ˈe-thi-kəl-nəs

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for ethical

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble 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

ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Example Sentences

Some doctors feel that this procedure is not medically ethical. the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force

Recent Examples on the Web The ethical error is to suppose only one model is right. —

Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 17 May 2023 Working alongside seasoned first responder Gene Rutkovsky (Penn), Cross discovers firsthand the chaos and awe of a job that careens from harrowing to heartfelt, and occasionally stretches into ethical ambiguity. —

Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 The announcement comes after a Justice Department probe into ethical matters. —

Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 During the coronavirus pandemic, a moratorium on trials led to a buildup of cases that pushed many public defenders beyond ethical standards. —

Will Langhorne, Arkansas Online, 14 May 2023 According to an article in the New York Times, the team working on the pangenome is working with some of these groups to set up ethical guidelines around how their genetic information can, and can’t, be used. —

Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 11 May 2023 Such a powerful tool also raises important ethical questions over genetic privacy and whose data is included and how. —

Evan Bush, NBC News, 10 May 2023 In February 1989, Bloom’s crime-busting instincts landed him in ethical hot water. —

John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2023 Many Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have sought to play down reporting on Thomas’s ethical issues, characterizing it as an attack on a conservative-leaning court. —

John Wagner, Anchorage Daily News, 4 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ethical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.