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
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
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 18 Sep. 2025.
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