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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 Kohberger’s public defense team declined interview requests from the Statesman since a longstanding gag order was lifted in the high-profile murder case in mid-July, citing ethical and legal obligations to their client. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2025 Attached to Paxton is a long list of ethical and moral problems. Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 In the end, the comedic payoff often comes from the fact that the Truth Teller’s work isn’t very good—a curious bait and switch, if the show truly does aspire to prove the worth of dogged, ethical accountability reporting. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025 Recovery is possible, but only when care is ethical, safe, and truly centered on the needs of patients. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethical
Adjective
  • Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was posthumously elevated to honorable.
    Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Simmons is a shell of his former self as a playmaker and was never able to develop a jump shot to at least keep defenses honest.
    Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • And being honest about that helped build long-term trust.
    Greg Peters, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The world’s first dual-action moral absolver.
    Vivian Song, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Another chase ensues, this time by car, and, once again, Jake bends his moral code to save Vince’s life.
    Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Slater’s first blast of the evening was a true wall-scraper in the top of the third, barely clearing the center-field fence to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
  • And remember, the point spread is designed to divide the wagers evenly, not be a true indicator of value.
    Jack Magruder, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Microsoft sold its entire stake in Apple six years later, netting a very respectable return.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The Tigers are no slouch in the American Conference and have respectable College Football Playoff aspirations.
    Sam Sklar, Mississippi Clarion Ledger, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, in the years since his brother's death, Melvin says he's become increasingly conscientious about his own health.
    Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Lawyers, over decades, tend to become more conscientious but less agreeable.
    Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These aren't nice-to-haves anymore.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The futon mattress is comfortable and has a nice weight distribution thanks to the pocket springs wrapped in polyester fiber.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Pashinyan was widely popular among diaspora Armenians after taking power in the 2018 Velvet Revolution, maintaining good relations with them and doing community visits during his international trips.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
  • In maybe his best throw in front of the 15 NFL scouts in the Memorial Stadium press box, Mendoza stood strong in the face of a seven-man pressure and delivered a 5-yard strike to Sarratt for a score.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethical. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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