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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ethical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ethical are moral, noble, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When is moral a more appropriate choice than ethical?

The meanings of moral and ethical largely overlap; however, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When would noble be a good substitute for ethical?

Although the words noble and ethical have much in common, 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 is it sensible to use righteous instead of ethical?

The words righteous and ethical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When might virtuous be a better fit than ethical?

While the synonyms virtuous and ethical are close in meaning, 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 ethical Leaders will need to be more human — not less — emphasizing emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making and mentorship that AI cannot replicate. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025 Beyond efficiency, sustainability and ethical sourcing have become essential, requiring brands to comply with environmental and labor regulations while improving transparency. Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2025 Impeachment is a rare step that is usually taken only in cases of grave ethical or criminal misconduct. arkansasonline.com, 19 Mar. 2025 The breach revealed that their products were being used for human rights abuses, despite claims of ethical oversight. Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethical
Adjective
  • That his record is treated as honorable, rather than hushed up and relegated to the trash bin of history, is a sour commentary on heroism and distinction in modern America.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • While displaying little to no respect for the millions of Americans who have made public service a proud and honorable profession, ironically, Musk’s companies have received tens of billions of dollars from the federal government over the years in federal contracts.
    Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Olivia Culpo is getting honest about what happened during the first trimester of her pregnancy.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Encourage candidates to ask questions and provide honest answers.
    Rebecca Skilbeck, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This is the kind of character Stallone made popular in the 1980s, when critics pushed back on the one-man-army archetype, but box office won out, to the point that people now feel nostalgic for Stallone’s dumbed-down moral code.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
  • All of this right-wing moral panic nonsense is going to make all the weird kids who make animal noises in class really cool.
    Samantha Riedel, Them., 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • More than ever before, women feel the freedom to explore and embrace their true desires without fear of societal rejection.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The >>Film Forward Competition Golden Alexander was bestowed to the documentary: Endless Cookie by Seth Scriver & Peter Scriver Reasoning: Golden Alexander Award goes to a film that is a true labor of love.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The sensor sizes for all three lenses are respectable, but nothing mind blowing.
    Ben Sin, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Woll’s final tally of 24 saves on 26 shots was plenty respectable.
    Nick Ashbourne, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The conscientious ones showed their value through results.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • In Texas, parents must get an affidavit notarized to have a valid conscientious exemption for their child.
    Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Provide Mentorship Giving back can be a nice way to make a meaningful contribution to others in your organization.
    Joseph Liu, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Suede bags are still everywhere and a nice commercial proposal adapted to many trends.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • And snood size is the quickest, easiest way for a hen to gauge whether the gobbler strutting his stuff in front of her is a good genetic candidate for her future poults.
    Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The city of Providence continues to be good to Pitino, who famously led Providence College to the Final Four in 1987 toward the beginning of his storied career.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethical. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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