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

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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 The term refers to the belief that science is the only way to understand the world and that morality should rest on reason rather than religious teachings. — Ruiqian Li, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026 With that as an economic model, morality and fair play was nonsense. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 When film and television try to capture the messy morality of these would-be titans, the results are predictably ambivalent. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Law & Courts A failed execution in Tennessee and plans to livestream a firing squad are recharging America’s death penalty debate, raising questions about morality and justice. — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 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
  • The virtue-signaling from the insufferable COVID summer of 2020 turned a lot of people off, rightfully so.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The nod to purity emphasized the paint brand’s relationship to cleanliness and virtue, and possibly other notions of bigotry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • The first lady credited scientific advances and changing social norms for the launch of the initiative, elements of which echo a Biden administration effort.
    — Dan Diamond, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • American norms about politics, science, education and law are being overturned, and artificial intelligence threatens further disruption.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of norms
Noun
  • The Justice Department aims to send poll monitors to all 50 states in the 2026 midterms, marking an ambitious expansion of a longstanding federal initiative aimed at ensuring election integrity.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But when the firmware itself is compromised, the source and integrity of the update become especially important.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of integrity
Noun
  • As the industry kept growing, Congress added safety, noise and emissions standards to protect the communities living beneath the flight paths.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Staff are attentive and helpful without being overly formal, delivering the high standards of a larger hotel with the personal touch of a boutique property.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of standards
Noun
  • Listen to their thoughts, then speak with hope, honesty and kindness.
    — Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The genre will continue to preserve the emotional honesty of its lyrics, which have traditionally focused on love.
    — Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Sign up here to get all the goodness delivered straight to your inbox.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Thank goodness the Authors Guild is taking action to fight back against AI, but the Big Five publishers are doing less so.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • The Johnson County pastor and the former rural doctor traded condemnations, repeatedly turning policy questions into opportunities to cast doubt on each other’s character and fitness for office.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Stretch fabrics have sleek constructions without the bulky appearance of conventional stretch denim, and mechanical stretch fabrics offer big, open twills and rigid character.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • Scented fleetingly with cinnamon, the dates gently smoked, their rightness with eggs sounds improbable.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 25 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about morality

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