moral authority

noun

: trustworthiness to make decisions that are right and good
The scandal has undermined the government's moral authority.

Examples of moral authority in a Sentence

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Becker writes about her friends with moral authority and empathy. Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025 Thant’s accomplishments are all the more impressive because the position of secretary-general carries no real power—except for the moral authority to speak for the world as a whole. Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 The angst over his exclusion is based on the false premise that the Hall of Fame still possesses the moral authority to judge him. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025 Mothers and Sons, by Adam Haslett, which speaks beautifully on meditation, moral authority, and genuine listening. Megha Majumdar, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moral authority

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“Moral authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moral%20authority. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.

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