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moral

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective moral differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of moral are ethical, noble, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When is ethical a more appropriate choice than moral?

The synonyms ethical and moral are sometimes interchangeable, but ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When might noble be a better fit than moral?

Although the words noble and moral 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

In what contexts can righteous take the place of moral?

In some situations, the words righteous and moral are roughly equivalent. However, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When could virtuous be used to replace moral?

While the synonyms virtuous and moral 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 moral
Adjective
Humans crave a singular leader who will give them a blueprint to enter heaven and relieve them of moral responsibility for their destiny. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025 Many left the profession early due to emotional exhaustion, family and personal health concerns, unsafe staffing ratios, moral injury and lack of institutional support. Kymberlee Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
Yet the moral of Phaedrus’ fable of the soldier-cinaedus is that such deceptive appearances and actions might actually be strategically successful in military matters. Tom Sapsford, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025 The moral of the story is to build or use additional safety layers to mitigate someone penetrating your network. Gil Dabah, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moral
Adjective
  • Many organizations are actively working on ethical AI frameworks to address bias and ensure fair, transparent decision-making processes.
    Chaitanya Laxminarayana, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The ethical lines are blurry and the decision-making is messy, but totally thrilling.
    Annabel Gutterman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, Greg/Gary is an honorable guy who would never bankrupt Belinda to teach her a lesson about greed and blackmail.
    Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Some Union soldiers attended the event, and two Union officers delivered orations, each focusing on the topic of reconciliation between the honorable foes.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Articulate openly and transparently why these principles are fundamental to the operating culture, particularly when under scrutiny or attack.
    Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Emergent behavior is the principle of a superorganism.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And, to be honest, her description of the breakup at that time sounded a lot more amicable than it’s been sounding lately.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But only if leaders have the appetite for that kind of honest data.
    Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That dissonance is a function of how eating less meat has been wrapped in a conscientious and moral sheen.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Emily is a conscientious worker who is constantly evaluating her performance and setting ever higher goals.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Wier initially didn’t receive credit for her connection series in the routine, lowering the start value.
    Henry Chappell, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Castellanos, in previous years, might not have seen the bigger value in that.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Francis hailed as 'true advocate for peace' In 2019, Francis became the first pontiff to set foot on the peninsula where Islam was born.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Walker will likely need time to develop in the right system, and the Raiders should wait until later to take a true off-ball linebacker.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • That’s just a theory, not a spoiler or even a prediction.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Moral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moral. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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