1
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honest
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
the ethical course of action for the senator who lied to Congress would be to resign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in moral
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong
ethical writers do not use the words of other writers without giving them proper credit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ethical
This group felt compelled to encourage the ethical engagement of its members in the midst of labor organizing because their work is often lifesaving and can be dangerous to disrupt due to strikes or other labor actions.
—
Patrick Aguilar, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Although the relocation of a very Nordic communitarian milieu to a British setting creates its own cultural dissonances, the end result is a nifty ethical puzzle about balancing the needs of individuals versus those of the community.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
In the end, the comedic payoff often comes from the fact that the Truth Teller’s work isn’t very good—a curious bait and switch, if the show truly does aspire to prove the worth of dogged, ethical accountability reporting.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Recovery is possible, but only when care is ethical, safe, and truly centered on the needs of patients.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethical
Patrick Aguilar, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Although the relocation of a very Nordic communitarian milieu to a British setting creates its own cultural dissonances, the end result is a nifty ethical puzzle about balancing the needs of individuals versus those of the community.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
In the end, the comedic payoff often comes from the fact that the Truth Teller’s work isn’t very good—a curious bait and switch, if the show truly does aspire to prove the worth of dogged, ethical accountability reporting.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Recovery is possible, but only when care is ethical, safe, and truly centered on the needs of patients.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethical
Adjective
-
Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was posthumously elevated to honorable.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Simmons is a shell of his former self as a playmaker and was never able to develop a jump shot to at least keep defenses honest.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
And being honest about that helped build long-term trust.—
Greg Peters,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Attached to Paxton is a long list of ethical and moral problems.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Carlson pressed him on what moral framework governs those decisions.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Early in the novel, Harold points out that authors are constantly looking for ways to bury their true beliefs in their text, rather than state them outright.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Like many Stephen King stories, the truest horrors are the ones that exist in reality.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But all of that also was punctured in the last Super Bowl, when the Chiefs fell behind 34-0 before putting up some late points to make the final margin appear far more respectable than the game was.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Duke has at least been respectable for some time.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, in the years since his brother's death, Melvin says he's become increasingly conscientious about his own health.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Lawyers, over decades, tend to become more conscientious but less agreeable.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Giving Wickham a nice holiday tan would be a bridge too far for the genteel world of Jane Austen.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Some decisions are prudent, such as the Las Vegas Raiders to defeat the New England Patriots at a nice underdog price.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The extra point was good but there was a holding penalty on the Rebels.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
-
After 10 tumultuous years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kadri delivered his best campaign with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, posting 89 points in the regular season and finishing by hoisting the Stanley Cup.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethical. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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