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moral Definition

moral (môr′əl, mär′-; for n. 4, mə ral′)

adjective

  1. relating to, dealing with, or capable of making the distinction between right and wrong in conduct
  2. relating to, serving to teach, or in accordance with the principles of right and wrong
  3. good or right in conduct or character; sometimes, specif., virtuous in sexual conduct
  4. designating support, etc. that involves approval and sympathy without action
  5. being virtually such because of its effect on thoughts, attitudes, etc., or because of its general results a moral victory
  6. based on strong probability a moral certainty
  7. based on the principle of right conduct rather than legality a moral obligation
  8. Law based on general observation of people, on analogy, etc. rather than on what is demonstrable moral evidence

Etymology: ME < L moralis, of manners or customs < mos (gen. moris), pl. mores, manners, morals (see mood): used by Cicero as transl. of Gr ēthikos

noun

  1. a moral implication or moral lesson taught by a fable, event, etc.
  2. the conclusion of a fable or story containing a moral lesson
  3. principles, standards, or habits with respect to right or wrong in conduct; ethics; sometimes, specif., standards of sexual behavior
  4. Rare morale

moral Related Forms

mor′·ally adverb

moral Synonyms

moral

modif.

  1. Good or right in conduct or character

    ethical, principled, virtuous, righteous, good, right, upright, honorable, trustworthy, conscientious, scrupulous, respectable, proper, truthful, decent, just, honest, right-minded, high-minded, saintly, pure, exemplary, laudable, worthy, correct, praiseworthy, showing integrity, incorruptible, noble, upstanding, seemly, aboveboard, dutiful, godly; see also noble 1, 2, reliable 1, righteous 1, upright 2.

    Antonyms immoral, unscrupulous, dishonest*.

  2. Conforming to approved standards of sexual conduct

    virtuous, chaste, pure, decent; see chaste 2, innocent 4.

  3. Moralizing

    didactic, moralizing, moralistic, preachy, sermonizing, monitory, sanctimonious, holier-than-thou.

moral implies conformity with generally accepted standards of goodness or rightness in conduct or character, sometimes, specif., in sexual conduct a moral person; ethical implies conformity with an elaborated, ideal code of moral principles, sometimes, specif., with the code of a particular profession an ethical lawyer; virtuous implies a morally excellent character, connoting integrity, self-discipline, or often, specif., chastity; righteous implies being morally blameless or justifiable righteous anger

moral Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • story: Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.
  • tale: The morals of the tale have as much relevance now as they did in the 1600's when Cervantes was writing the novel.

Converse of object

  • corrupt: First Corinthians 15:33 says, " Evil company corrupts good morals.
  • reform: In 397 he became Bishop of Constantinople and really got stuck into trying to reform the morals of both clergy and people.

Adjective modifier

  • strict: Can you be true to yourself, while adhering to the strict Islamic morals the country prides itself on?
  • public: When it was originally published, six of the poems were banned as being offensive to public morals and Baudelaire received a fine.
  • bad: You read 2 Peter 2 and you'll see how bad theology and bad morals go together.
  • personal: Firstly, everything, from the protocol for catching a bus, to food, to personal morals or social requirements are completely different.

Modifies a noun

  • dilemma: Buying flowers for your girlfriend or spending the money to upgrade your RAM is a moral dilemma.
  • obligation: A moral obligation for the West to talk with Hamas.
  • imperative: Recognition of our common humanity makes religious toleration a moral imperative.
  • philosophy: Also offers a biography of Tolstoy, discussing the authors ' moral philosophy.
  • panic: Given that there has been a " moral panic " cultivated in Greece regarding migrants, there is a well-founded suspicion for the above.
  • judgment: He shifted the terminology of the debate from moral judgment to value judgment.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Looking at the thing from a purely moral point of view, what can be said?
  • strictly: She worries about the General's reaction to her, knowing how strictly moral he is.
  • neither: Architects feel therefore neither moral nor physical power to protest over anything.
  • merely: If you try to talk about a truth that's merely moral, people always think it's merely metaphorical.
  • truly: It will be possible to be truly moral only in a world which has overcome these dichotomies.
  • no: A year-old male i'll be at have no moral.

Browse dictionary entries near moral

  1. ‹ moraine
  2. ‹ Moradabad
  3. ‹ mora
  4. ‹ mor
  5. ‹ moquette
  6. ‹ moppet
  7. ‹ mopped
  8. ‹ moped
  9. ‹ mope
  10. ‹ mopboard
  1. moral certainty ›
  2. moral hazard ›
  3. moral philosophy ›
  4. moral turpitude ›
  5. morale ›
  6. moralism ›
  7. moralist ›
  8. moralistic ›
  9. morality ›
  10. morality play ›