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

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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

Treating emptiness as sophistication becomes incapable of distinguishing moral from aesthetic judgment. — Frank Porcu, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026 Sprouse is a serviceable lead, adapting to new forms of mayhem while slowly reaching a form of moral rehabilitation, for which he’s rewarded with a romantic arc. — Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Noun

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 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 See All Example Sentences for moral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moral

Adjective

Leo has an intense four days in France, where the Catholic Church has lost ground on influencing ethical issues given the strict approach to secularism that is enshrined in the French Constitution.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
For journalists, being romantically involved with your subject treads a tricky ethical line.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of ethical

Noun

Modernist principles were not America’s cultural language; they were imported and established through institutions.

— Frank Porcu, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Latshaw said public health officials often rely on the precautionary principle, reducing potential exposures when feasible even before definitive evidence of harm exists.

— Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of principle

Adjective

The biggest difference is having a run-pass split and making the defense play honest, rather than keying on the Falcons' run game.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Then someone from finance asks what the company got for the money, and the honest answer is a pause.

— Boris Dzhingarov, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of honest

Adjective

Almost 7% of Tarrant County kindergarteners had a conscientious exemption to at least one vaccine in the 2025-26 school year, up from 3% five years ago, according to state data.

— Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026
Fretting about the future is a favorite preoccupation of the conscientious.

— Joe Fassler, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of conscientious

Noun

In response, retailers are adjusting their marketing approaches to target the value-conscious early holiday shopper as opposed to expecting to capture the consumer during a few peak shopping days throughout the holiday season.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
The exact terms of the PWHL’s loan, including the value of the league’s intellectual property, were not disclosed in the documents.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of value

Adjective

In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
In Cuba, for instance, the single format is dominant, and very few artists have dared to create a true concept album.

— Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of true

Noun

During cross-examination on Tuesday, Kosowski asked a detective to lift a cart with a person onto a desk in an attempt to disprove the state's theory, which the judge did not allow.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
The quest for real-life warp drives Einstein taught us that objects with mass can't accelerate through space beyond the speed of light, according to his theory of special relativity.

— Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of moral

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