moral victory
noun
: the achievement of something that is important and good
Although they lost, the minority claimed the vote as a moral victory since they had won the support of so many former opponents.
Examples of moral victory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the tally in the loss column doesn’t count any differently than the 34-6 and 41-7 losses the Cowboys took to this same Eagles team in 2024, there’s a moral victory to be had in having a shot to steal one on the road in Week 1 — even if the effort came up short.
—
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
There is neither justice nor peace nor any kind of moral victory in forcing an old man with dementia into a trial for a 37-year-old crime.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Superman went from a trajectory toward $550 million to suddenly staring confidently at $600 million or more, if last weekend’s upset moral victory is a sign of things to come.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Their seven runs and 11 hits were at least building blocks for a moral victory.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
Athletes and coaches are loath to admit even a shred of positive in any defeat, let alone in the immediate aftermath, but if ever the moral victory existed, can’t Inter Miami claim some of that even after a 4-0 defeat?
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
To surpass the realm of moral victory and achieve immortality in Oklahoma, Jokic might have to reach even deeper and speak even louder.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 May 2025
Just treading water would have been a moral victory.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Required reading How Penn State and Beaver Stadium are prepared to host a College Football Playoff game
Penn State’s loss to Oregon was no moral victory.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
There is neither justice nor peace nor any kind of moral victory in forcing an old man with dementia into a trial for a 37-year-old crime.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Superman went from a trajectory toward $550 million to suddenly staring confidently at $600 million or more, if last weekend’s upset moral victory is a sign of things to come.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Their seven runs and 11 hits were at least building blocks for a moral victory.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
Athletes and coaches are loath to admit even a shred of positive in any defeat, let alone in the immediate aftermath, but if ever the moral victory existed, can’t Inter Miami claim some of that even after a 4-0 defeat?
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
To surpass the realm of moral victory and achieve immortality in Oklahoma, Jokic might have to reach even deeper and speak even louder.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 May 2025
Just treading water would have been a moral victory.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Required reading How Penn State and Beaver Stadium are prepared to host a College Football Playoff game
Penn State’s loss to Oregon was no moral victory.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Moral victory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moral%20victory. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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