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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ethical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ethical are moral, noble, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When is moral a more appropriate choice than ethical?

The meanings of moral and ethical largely overlap; however, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When would noble be a good substitute for ethical?

Although the words noble and ethical have much in common, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When is it sensible to use righteous instead of ethical?

The words righteous and ethical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When might virtuous be a better fit than ethical?

While the synonyms virtuous and ethical are close in meaning, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ethical Additionally, these incidents have shined a light on the gap that can exist between brands’ public commitments to ethical standards and the reality of their supply chain operations. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025 What are the ethical and humanitarian costs of war? Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025 Microsoft had already fired every member of its team responsible for directing ethical AI innovation. James Barrat, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025 This approach sidesteps ethical concerns around voice cloning and unauthorized use of actor likenesses, as all work is done with proper permissions and content rights. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethical
Adjective
  • That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This reversal deeply disrespects every honorable soldier who's had our Stars and Stripes draped over their casket as Taps play in the background.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But all friends need to be honest with each other, to tell each other home truths when it’s needed, to confront those awkward moments without fear of the reaction.
    Steve Sedgwick, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But when those larger firms start to adopt similar habits—open forums, early interventions, honest check-ins—things change fast.
    Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Being fat is not a moral failing for which people should be punished.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Early birds have long basked in the glory of health superiority, sometimes even tinged with a hit of moral righteousness.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Redshirt junior Colton Boomer and true freshman Canaan Moore ach missed a field goal — Boomer from 46 yards and Moore from 24.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Red maple Red maple stays true to its name.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Swag itself opened with a respectable 163,000 overall units back in July despite having few physical album sales since his physical units hadn’t shipped out yet.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • And at least Brentford’s human-rights record is respectable.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Younger adults in particular are less conscientious, agreeable, extroverted and open to new experiences than past generations, while neuroticism — marked by anxiety and emotional instability — is rising.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Most of the traits that are good, like being conscientious and agreeable are also cool, but in different capacities.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Cutely line them up along the mantel with candles or lanterns, or add them to a nice tray with a few jack-o’-lanterns.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The beef is tender, and the broth has that nice aromatic spice that is immediately soothing and associated with a classic beef noodle soup.
    Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • All of the cats who tested this litter adjusted to it quickly and easily — some even had a little play date in their box, kicking and scratching, which is a good sign!
    Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Leisure’s best new hotels of 2021, Wander the Resort offers 10 luxurious glass-and-timber cabins along the quiet northern shores of West Lake.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethical. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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