high-minded

adjective

high-mind·​ed ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce high-minded (audio)
Synonyms of high-mindednext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Was the thinking behind the decision so high-minded, though, back in 1890? Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 Their goals are high-minded (protecting the environment, improving workplace conditions, breaking up powerful interests, helping the poor), but their tools always involve taxation, regulation and government power. Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026 If the stakes laid out for Lady are simple enough, Nwosu saves complexity in her sketch of a city vast enough that a person could lose track of their dreams by sheer dint of distraction; the day-to-day business of survival slowly eroding anything more high-minded on the horizon. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026 In the aftermath of The Burn, the United Federation of Planets all but collapsed, and some of the high-minded ideals of Starfleet fell by the wayside. Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-minded

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“High-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-minded. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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
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