SPORTSMANLIKE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

sportsmanlike

adjective

Definition of sportsmanlike

as in legal

following or according to the rules admired by the fans for his sportsmanlike conduct on the ice

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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 sportsmanlike If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries. — Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sportsmanlike

Adjective

Multiple sources told OutKick that school administrators, along with Governor Jeff Landry and President Wade Rousse were discussing the situation with LSU legal counsel throughout Thursday evening and all of Friday.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Jordan Lyle out The Hurricanes on Thursday officially ruled out Jordan Lyle for Friday’s game against Stanford as the junior running back continues to await legal clarity following his August arrest.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of legal

Adjective

But unlike actual fatigues, this is cut to drape just right in all the right places and is clean of any distressing and patches.

— Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026
The costumes, designed by Mallory Kay Nelson, are immaculately clean, unscuffed and unwrinkled work clothes, giving the show an almost cartoonish quality.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of clean

Adjective

The group meets monthly and is open to those with honorable, general and other-than-honorable discharges.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026
All persons having business before this honorable court are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the court is now sitting.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of honorable

Adjective

To be fair, Snyder, who’s also credited as the film’s cinematographer, captures no shortage of admittedly stirring images throughout, especially those involving flickering light and brooding shadows.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
This is worse than a coin toss, which would at least be fair.

— Manas Chaudhari, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fair

Adjective

In neither case, by today's standards, were the operations fair or ethical on a number of fronts.

— Space.com Staff, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
As these tasks fell outside the scope of the employees' official duties, the directive amounted to a violation of ethical standards, the report concluded.

— Andrea Hsu, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of ethical

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sportsman

sportsmanlike

sportsmanly

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“Sportsmanlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sportsmanlike. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sportsmanlike

adjective

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