Definition of noblenext
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noble

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noun

as in aristocrat
a man or woman of high birth or social position an elite school for children of nobles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective noble differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of noble are ethical, moral, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When might ethical be a better fit than noble?

The synonyms ethical and noble 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

Where would moral be a reasonable alternative to noble?

While the synonyms moral and noble are close in meaning, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When can righteous be used instead of noble?

Although the words righteous and noble have much in common, 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 noble?

The words virtuous and noble can be used in similar contexts, but 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 noble
Adjective
The series tracked noble houses across continents; alliances formed, fractured, and reformed over eight seasons. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Zinc also costs less than traditional noble-gas propellants and has a much broader supply base. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Even with six dragons in tow and a massive army, she’s struggled to project an image of strength to nobles and common folk of the realm. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Baden-Baden has been a spa town since ancient times, luring Roman-era nobles to take the waters there at its natural springs in the Black Forest. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for noble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noble
Adjective
  • Beatrice’s children do have aristocratic titles, even though Eugenie’s don’t.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026
  • His family has not endured near the top of the British aristocratic food chain by being critical of the royal household, but Diana's story has changed that.
    — Mark Phillips, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Located 30 miles northeast of Atlanta, the community of around 30,000 is home to a walkable, historic downtown populated with local boutiques and businesses; a legendary theatre; and lots of great restaurants.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Apple Apple's done great work to promote its Music streaming service by showcasing fantastic artists over the years.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • While some might argue that Murphy is an antihero, Hawke viewed him as an honorable man.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
  • There are, of course, many honorable people who own businesses and choose to become politicians.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Sitting within the magnificent 350 acres estate of Ashford Castle, The Lodge at Ashford Castle overlooks magical Lough (lake) Corrib.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Its magnificent buildings, erected over the centuries, reveal the splendors of British architectural history.
    — Ashley Baker, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Reclaiming the work of women selling fish, and the word that was an insult but is now a beautiful brand, is a wonderful turn of phrase and time, to us.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But De Santis is also wonderful at the end of the day, when the sun sets and Milan slowly begins to wind down.
    — Emma Bocchi, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Respini joined the institution three years ago as deputy director and director of curatorial programs after a distinguished tenure as chief curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Solange Knowles, sister of Beyoncé and a distinguished musician and artist in her own right, will unveil a large-scale sculpture on New York’s High Line as part of an event staged later this week by Google.
    — Andy Battaglia for ARTnews, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But a motley array of other people—advocates of free love, avant-garde painters, grifters fleecing ex-aristocrats—took advantage of the chaos to promote their own agendas.
    — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The place to indulge in the unbridled opulence of an early 20th-century aristocrat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Its high density allows power-generation equipment such as turbines and heat exchangers to be considerably more compact than comparable steam-cycle equipment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Stanford professor Matt Abrahams and Zapier CEO Wade Foster discuss how leaders are using AI to synthesize information, structure ideas, prepare for difficult conversations, and rehearse for high-stakes moments.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 24 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noble. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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