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View synonyms for moral

moral

[ mawr-uhl, mor- ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical:

    moral attitudes.

  2. expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work.
  3. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom:

    moral obligations.

  4. capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct:

    a moral being.

  5. conforming to the rules of right conduct ( immoral ):

    a moral man.

    Synonyms: honorable, virtuous, open, straightforward, honest, upright

  6. virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.
  7. of, relating to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character:

    moral support.

  8. resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual:

    a moral certainty.



noun

  1. the moral teaching or practical lesson contained in a fable, tale, experience, etc.
  2. the embodiment or type of something.
  3. morals, principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct.

    Synonyms: morality, integrity

moral

/ ˈmɒrəl /

adjective

  1. concerned with or relating to human behaviour, esp the distinction between good and bad or right and wrong behaviour

    moral sense

  2. adhering to conventionally accepted standards of conduct
  3. based on a sense of right and wrong according to conscience

    moral law

    moral courage

  4. having psychological rather than tangible effects

    moral support

  5. having the effects but not the appearance of (victory or defeat)

    a moral victory

    a moral defeat

  6. having a strong probability

    a moral certainty

  7. law (of evidence, etc) based on a knowledge of the tendencies of human nature
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. the lesson to be obtained from a fable or event

    point the moral

  2. a concise truth; maxim
  3. plural principles of behaviour in accordance with standards of right and wrong
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈmorally, adverb
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Other Words From

  • moral·less adjective
  • anti·moral adjective
  • hyper·moral adjective
  • hyper·moral·ly adverb
  • over·moral adjective
  • over·moral·ly adverb
  • pre·moral adjective
  • pre·moral·ly adverb
  • pseudo·moral adjective
  • quasi-moral adjective
  • quasi-moral·ly adverb
  • super·moral adjective
  • super·moral·ly adverb
  • under·moral adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of moral1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin mōrālis, equivalent to mōr- (stem of mōs ) “usage, custom” + -ālis -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of moral1

C14: from Latin mōrālis relating to morals or customs, from mōs custom
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Synonym Study

Morals, ethics refer to rules and standards of conduct and practice. Morals refers to generally accepted customs of conduct and right living in a society, and to the individual's practice in relation to these: the morals of our civilization. Ethics now implies high standards of honest and honorable dealing, and of methods used, especially in the professions or in business: ethics of the medical profession.
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Example Sentences

The story of fluoridation reads like a postmodern fable, and the moral is clear: a scientific discovery might seem like a boon.

Bratton might have said something that was closer to a real-world moral equivalence.

That had to give them an enormous reservoir of moral strength and solace.

But it remains a moral crime to vilify good cops who have made the city safe, saving thousands of lives.

For far too long, we have been coasting on a moral authority to which we long ago lost any clear title.

Everything is topsy-turvy in Europe according to our moral ideas, and they don't have what we call "men" over here.

Such mutual distrust necessarily creates or accompanies a lack of moral courage.

And so these features take on a kind of moral rightness before they are judged of as pleasing to the eye and as beautiful.

Once he permitted himself a digression, that he might point a moral for the benefit of his servant.

The naïve conception of sky and earth, and lastly the moral issue of the story, are no less instructive.

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