morality

noun

mə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce morality (audio)
Definition of moralitynext
1
as in virtue
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong given his reputation for unswerving morality, scandal of any kind would wreck his political career

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in principles
the code of good conduct for an individual or group the morality that members of the Mafia are expected to adhere to—or suffer the consequences

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 morality In a climate which increasingly tells people in these farmers communities that those two values are not politically aligned, sustainable farmers of faith told me that Berry validated their own sense of morality. — Sydney Giacalone, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026 The conflict between these characters is greater than the morality tale engulfing them. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Is the morality fable at the end an allegory of purgatory or hell? — The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026 The Sopranos, Mad Men, Breaking Bad — these were dramas about institutions, morality, and power, all told through the highest cinematic craft. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for morality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for morality
  1. virtue
  2. norms
  3. integrity
  4. standards
  5. honesty
  6. goodness
  7. character
  8. rightness
Noun
  • New recruits and seasoned officers alike take field trips to the Museum of Tolerance, where trainers extol the virtues of multiculturalism.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Baek Ki-hyeon aspired to walk a path of virtue and provide for their sister through honest means — but his calculating spymaster big brother was never going to let them out of his grasp.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • Hoon Lee is not as famous as Pugh, nor does his character burn as brightly as Cathy’s hatred for societal norms.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • To Hitchcock, the indelible feature of Roosevelt’s Presidency was his desire to protect democratic norms and processes amid crises, even as critics accused him of being a power-mad dictator or a Communist sympathizer.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of norms
Noun
  • Avoid overdrying, which can degrade the integrity of the individual cotton fibers.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Focus on either your high level of integrity or your deviousness.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of integrity
Noun
  • Professional societies and standards organizations will need to develop and regularly update the technical requirements.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Cornell University’s investigation, of course, did not have to adhere to New York’s arguably archaic criminal standards, but its response, too, has triggered anger and disbelief across airwaves and social media.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of standards
Noun
  • By sharing their journeys with such honesty and courage, Dec, Dan and Saskia revealed the reality of rebuilding a life after stroke, and the truth behind the long and unforgiving journey to reclaim the right to live an independent life.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • If fans delighted in Newport’s honesty in the past, season seven can only raise her stock further.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Still, the goodness of the final product justifies the effort.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But Redick was always LeBron James’ choice, and now that James is gone — thank goodness!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • The conversation and the word itself, which gives the seventh and final episode its title, unlocks the Biblical underpinnings and the complexities governing many of the main characters.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the endeavor feels worth it for Pugh and Lee’s standout efforts, which etch their characters deep into one’s memory.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • Cool Machine is definitive not only for its sweep but also for the rightness, the evocative precision, of the details that fill its paragraphs like the mystery mix inside the skin of a Gray’s Papaya hot dog.
    — David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
  • If the Sun is high in the lunar sky during the flyby, there will be few shadows, and the crew will be looking for subtle variations in surface color and rightness.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of rightness

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moralists
morality
morality play
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Cite this Entry

“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/morality. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on morality

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about morality

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