noble 1 of 2

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

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 show portrays devious, cocaine-huffing young bankers climbing the ranks of global finance, and Yasmin—or Yas, for short—has cut the least noble path of all. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 Barrymore’s noble gesture did not inspire imitation. Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
Based on Julia Quinn's beloved book series, the Netflix series centers on its namesake family of lovestruck nobles, with each season highlighting the romantic exploits of a different Bridgerton. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025 The Tiarè is a tropical flower from Polynesia; it was intended for the ruling class of nobles and as a symbol of purity and divine power. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for noble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noble
Adjective
  • Martha had no interest in Franco’s aristocratic, fascist Nationalists.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The American groups always had very aristocratic, wonderful names.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • His pressure rate numbers are remarkable — even if his sack numbers aren’t — which is great news for a Panthers pass rush that was among the worst in the league last year.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The advisory warns of possible tornadoes, hail greater than 2 inches in diameter, winds greater than 70 miles per hour and localized flash flooding for areas near and south of I-80.
    Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Being conspicuous by his absence is not an honorable action, and will be remembered.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Kramer and Fauci—their honorable disagreements, their curiosity about each other’s worldview, their good-faith debate—were the real show, all along.
    Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • There are unexpected combinations, such as an 18th-century bust of a young girl mounted on a black marble column custom-made in a Parisian workshop; both are placed in front of a magnificent sketch.
    Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 8 Mar. 2026
  • These hybrid magnolias display magnificent deep-pink to reddish-purple flowers late enough in spring that frosts seldom damage them.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The state should leave well enough alone and let the Connecticut homeschool community educate their children in many wonderful ways.
    Nicholas Tampio, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Another wonderful spot is McIntire Park, especially the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial section.
    Abby Price, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • One thing Mojtaba is not is a religious scholar, fit to lead a country whose founding revolutionary purpose was to place the state under the total authority of the most distinguished Shiite jurist.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Mohamed-Slim Alouini, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, says the bandwidth of free-space optical (FSO) technologies like Taara Beam and Lightbridge still leaves plenty of room to grow.
    Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dividend aristocrats, or companies that have boosted their payouts in each of the past 25 years, are among the strategies outperforming the broader market in 2026.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
  • That’s likely due to the infamy of his father, Oswald Mosley—a politician and aristocrat best known for founding the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The machine scanned the skull using bright, nondestructive X-rays, generating over 9,000 high-resolution images and terabytes of data.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Allen was led by fiesty 5-foot-6 guard Nehemiah Lawrence, who finished with a team high 19 points.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noble. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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