1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun probity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of probity are honesty, honor, and integrity. While all these words mean "uprightness of character or action," probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

When might honesty be a better fit than probity?

The words honesty and probity can be used in similar contexts, but honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

When is it sensible to use honor instead of probity?

The words honor and probity are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

When could integrity be used to replace probity?

In some situations, the words integrity and probity are roughly equivalent. However, integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

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 probity The dilemma recalls Otto Preminger’s Whirlpool and Where the Sidewalk Ends, post-WWII films about personal probity but without the melodramatic hype that cheapened both. Armond White, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024 Although this is the right move to convince the ECB that becoming lender of last resort will not open the door to moral hazard, since the pact is to bind all countries to fiscal probity, the austerity policies embedded in it are likely only to reinforce the growth crisis. Vivien A. Schmidt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2011 But the arrival in the emerging world of financial globalization, with its demands of political and institutional stability, financial supervision, and monetary and fiscal probity, proved far more damaging. Alan M. Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2011 There are questions of law and questions of decency, and even those who skirt the outer limits of the law attempt to keep up an appearance of probity. Andrew Solomon, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for probity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probity
Noun
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
  • The first foundational standard, covering AI trustworthiness, was published in 2020, providing guidelines for assessing the reliability and integrity of AI systems.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • In all honesty, this look was well worth a double take.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 July 2025
  • Response snowballed from there and rather than repelling people — as her family once feared — Glaser’s brutal honesty and candid observations brought her a whole new audience.
    Jenelle Riley, Variety, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • Ahead of his death, Hussle said that raising Emani and Kross was his greatest honor.
    Nicole Briese, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • What an honor to be nominated alongside such incredible women.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • And then reality crashes down around them in a series of scenes that expose the cruel hypocrisy of Iran’s corrupt system (which purports to uphold morality, but allows men in positions of authority to indulge themselves in egregious ways).
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 July 2025
  • The post did not address the morality of allowing biological males in girls sports.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • High-net-worth individuals, particularly business owners, professionals and investors, often face elevated exposure to legal risk simply by virtue of their visibility and success.
    Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Just by virtue of being president, Trump has bolstered this belief of mine.
    Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • On the contrary, there’s a kind of sincerity to his reverence for beauty, for the erotic as art.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
  • So the director builds our modern discomfort with sincerity into his interpretation—an approach that meshes with the film’s sunny politics, which are loudly obvious from the jump.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Ranch: The Ranch Snack Wrap delivers a satisfying burst of cool ranch goodness, with hints of garlic and onion.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 11 July 2025
  • Thank God for reviewer Brad Bourque's roundup of the Best Printers and thank goodness that at least two of these are on sale.
    WIRED, Wired News, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • What are your compliance and reliability requirements?
    Alex Gudilko, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • For reasons including product safety and reliability, battery technology discoveries take years to reach the marketplace.
    Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Probity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probity. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on probity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!