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

For many Christians and Jews, protecting coexistence in the Holy Land is a moral imperative after their own long histories of religious persecution. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Although there is no moral equivalence between the two, both are manifestations of the same problem. — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

Noun

Without naming names but easy enough to deduce, Joan Baez has let her disappointment known about the morals of some of the most popular women in the music industry. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 May 2026 The movie, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary on May 3, showed us how to use our magic and morals to decide whether to embrace necromancy and the occult. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for moral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moral

Adjective

For Chinese patients – at least those who can afford the product – the question is less ethical than existential.

— CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Complex international maritime law, competing ownership claims, ethical infighting among academics about how best to approach the undersea historical site, and the immense technical and fiscal costs of recovery have kept its bounty on the sea floor.

— Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of ethical

Adjective

That work is, in my opinion, as honorable as being a midwife or the kind of doula who helps deliver babies.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
My time in the ministry was filled with hundreds of friendships of men and women of all faiths who were faith-filled and honorable.

— Chick Pritchard, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of honorable

Noun

The agency issued nonbinding guidelines for dosing studies in 2024 and has incorporated Project Optimus principles into the approval process for new cancer drugs, said Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Lampard’s Coventry absolutely have tactical principles and ideas which suit underdog football and survival.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of principle

Adjective

Attracting and training game officials, to be honest, isn’t the job of the CIF office but of the various regional officials associations that assign them.

— Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
Set in 2009, the film follows two TV reporters forced into a dirty election campaign for a pro-Russian candidate who struggle to stay honest with their work and the people.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of honest

Adjective

What’s more, not all protein powders are equal, so a conscientious approach is warranted.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026
Even the most conscientious hand washers who use a basin or a full sink still use two to four times as much water as the average dishwasher cycle.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2026

Definition of conscientious

Adjective

The true spike in demand began showing up in the data this spring, said Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
The same was true when the Korean War broke out in June 1950, surprising Americans from shop floors to the Oval Office.

— Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of true

Noun

These theories spreading online, one expert says, stem from people’s struggles to find a fulfilling explanation for what has happened.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Heck, for instance, studies how discrepancy theory can be applied to improve large language models and other machine learning systems.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of theory

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moral

moralism

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“Moral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moral. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of moral

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