high-minded

adjective

high-mind·​ed ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce high-minded (audio)
: marked by elevated principles and feelings
also : pretentious
too high-minded to read any fiction Alfred Kazin
high-mindedly adverb
high-mindedness noun

Examples of high-minded in a Sentence

high-minded efforts to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate she was too high-minded to admit publicly to watching trashy movies, but privately she loved them
Recent Examples on the Web While the administration has dressed up its order in high-minded terms, the change is blatantly protectionist. Iain Murray, National Review, 27 Sep. 2024 But for those who also want to engage in the more high-minded discussion of human rights and the fight for justice around the world, next summer’s interaction with George and Amal Clooney on Lake Como will provide a great deal of substantive thought and impetus for action. Laurie Werner, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 Back in college, my classmates had high-minded ambitions like fighting climate change, becoming human-rights lawyers, and starting microfinance firms to alleviate poverty. Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Other times, however, wartime tax resistance has been less high-minded. Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for high-minded 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-minded was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near high-minded

Cite this Entry

“High-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-minded. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

high-minded

adjective
high-mind·​ed
ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd
: having or expressing noble ideas and feelings
high-mindedly adverb
high-mindedness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!