Definition of honorablenext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective honorable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of honorable are conscientious, honest, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

How are the words conscientious and scrupulous related as synonyms of honorable?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

In what contexts can honest take the place of honorable?

Although the words honest and honorable have much in common, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

When could just be used to replace honorable?

The synonyms just and honorable are sometimes interchangeable, but just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

When would upright be a good substitute for honorable?

While the synonyms upright and honorable are close in meaning, upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

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 honorable Resignation is the only honorable thing to do. Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026 Though the art that first spoke to me was honest and honorable depictions of Black life, I have since been inspired, gutted and changed by artists from all walks of life. Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson called LaMalfa an honorable public servant and recounted the two working together to deliver help for wildfire victims. Steve Large, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026 She's also lost her faith in England, believing that her husband and son weren't part of an honorable war, but were instead used as cannon fodder. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for honorable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honorable
Adjective
  • Academically, no; the call for honest and accurate citation of one’s sources will, and must, ring out as forcefully as ever.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The show was described as an honest look at an oft-misunderstood job, according to an application for film incentives submitted to the state in May 2025 and reviewed by The News.
    Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Indeed, a further 18% said being a billionaire was perfectly ethical.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Overall, the property demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, ethical labor standards, and cultural preservation.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Cecilia, or, Memoirs of an Heiress brims with irony, withering dialogue, psychosocial revelation and astute moral inquiry.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
  • With a barrage of information, the grocery store can feel like a moral test.
    Michelle Beadle Holder, SELF, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Actually, tearjerkers, as a genre, are noble, albeit with a lousy reputation and a glib name for what is essentially an empathy machine that’s eager to streamline complicated emotions.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Ducks backup Ville Husso got the call against the club that drafted and developed him, making 32 of 35 saves in a noble showing.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Of the 32 rooms, 12 are suites, and the remaining are superior double rooms, so all are a nice size.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
  • This one also had a nice fresh scent that wasn’t overpowering (which can sometimes happen when all your curl-routine products are fragrant).
    Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Many comments on the video, however, asked to see specifics of where money has been invested, and where conscientious consumers could verify these claims.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Virtually no risk-free approach Even a conscientious employer following the rule and regulatory and judicial interpretation of the rule may have its workplace seating policy second-guessed.
    Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • In the decades before the Civil War, public theater was not generally considered respectable.
    Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Variety’s final predictions correctly called 18 of the 24 categories — a respectable 75% success rate — but the larger lesson of the season may be simpler.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • How to Spot the Next One Before sharing a story that sounds too absurd to be true, check the source page.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
  • That’s particularly true in the world of elite prep schools, which sometimes cost nearly $100,000 per year and often give athletic aid.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 17 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Honorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honorable. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

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