MORAL Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

moral 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmȯr-əl

Definition of moral

as in ethical

conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue the kind of moral behavior that is expected of everyone in the parish's youth organization

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in honorable

guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong a moral decision to refrain from sexual relations until after marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moral

2 of 2

noun

as in principle

Related Words

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

Making food moral There is no question that some foods have greater nutritional value than others. — Bryn Beeder, The Conversation, 1 Nov. 2026 Alaska Public Media's Liz Ruskin spoke with election law experts, who found no applicable laws but noted that the conduct described crosses moral and ethical lines. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Noun

The point is that trust, related to ethics, morals and transparency, is not an option. — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 As my son Wes aptly said, the moral of the story is that some democrats seem okay with Nazi symbolism but not a Jewish state. — Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for moral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moral

Adjective

Milei has also embraced data centers and a largely unfettered approach to artificial intelligence regulation, while Pope Leo's inaugural encyclical called for ethical caution and safeguards to protect human dignity in the age of AI.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Lawyers are officers of the court, bound by ethical obligations to pursue claims in good faith and not abuse the legal process for improper purposes.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of ethical

Adjective

Younger and middle-aged elites are also less inclined to put up with the careers and sacrifices the state has historically presented as honorable.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Drawing district lines to effectively disenfranchise voters and ensure a seat in Congress for some partisan hack was a dark-of-night sort of thing that the public hated, not an honorable practice for upstanding citizens.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of honorable

Noun

Garbage in, garbage out A longstanding foundational principle in computing and AI is that the quality of a system’s output is limited by the quality of its input.

— Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
At the heart of the tradition is seva, a Sikh principle meaning selfless service.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of principle

Adjective

Keeping a running list of questions that go beyond the scope of what the agent was built to handle functions as an honest product roadmap.

— Rob Green, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
And when side effects feel unbearable, patients deserve honest conversations about their options.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of honest

Adjective

Once reading time kicked off during a recent meetup, the only sounds from the group were the quiet rustle of pages turning and the conscientious nibbling of snacks and sipping of tea as the cafe continued its bustle.

— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026
Even if every senator were ethical, conscientious and committed to the public good, the incentives would remain the same.

— Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of conscientious

Noun

Our fashion choices say much about our values, identity, and aspirations.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
Cesar-Nuñez, whose practice is based in Pasadena, noted that traditional Latino cultural values like emphasis on family and reputation can serve as deterrents for seeking therapy or other help.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of value

Adjective

The backstory Kromo is the first hotel in Thailand under the Curio Collection by Hilton, a brand known for its independent boutique hotels that stay true to their local identity.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Gentile’s feature directorial debut, American Murderer, was a true-crime thriller starring Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, and Jacki Weaver.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of true

Noun

In one prominent theory, the defining feature of introspection is that it’s based on particular mental representations of other thoughts.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Attorney General Todd Blanche subscribes to the unitary executive theory that does not recognize or allow the independence of government lawyers from the president.

— David Baldacci, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of theory

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“Moral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moral. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of moral

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noun

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