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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun probity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of probity are honesty, honor, and integrity. While all these words mean "uprightness of character or action," probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

When might honesty be a better fit than probity?

The words honesty and probity can be used in similar contexts, but honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

When is it sensible to use honor instead of probity?

The words honor and probity are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

When could integrity be used to replace probity?

In some situations, the words integrity and probity are roughly equivalent. However, integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

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 probity There are questions of law and questions of decency, and even those who skirt the outer limits of the law attempt to keep up an appearance of probity. Andrew Solomon, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 However, rather than a system with strong legal institutions and constraints on executive power, the Constitution of Year III relied on the probity of its voters and representatives. Christine Adams / Made By History, TIME, 16 Sep. 2024 France’s fiscal probity is in doubt with investors shorting the nation’s bonds even before Macron’s surprise decision, and the region’s allure as a stable and relatively volatility-free alternative to US markets has taken a blow. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 28 June 2024 Speaking to the Guardian, FitzGerald dismissed the notion that his father, who was widely known for his probity, would make a claim for payment. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for probity 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probity
Noun
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Richard Davenport, arkansasonline.com, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Hudson Jeans will showcase its latest designs at the Men’s Chicago Collective show this season, exemplifying designs that highlight the quality and integrity of its craftmanship legacy.
    Fairchild Studio, WWD, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • His mastery of both emotional honesty and sociopolitical truth-telling puts him in Richard Pryor territory.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Obviously, loyalty and honesty, but also just someone who is fun to play the game with.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Notable among the acting nominees is Abou Sangare, nominated for Male Breakout Performance in Souleymane’s Story, who took home the best actor honor at last year’s European Film Awards.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
  • She will be presented with the honor on Saturday (Feb. 1) at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre ahead of the 2025 Grammy Awards the following day.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Treating our team members well is a matter of morality.
    Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Popular discussion often approaches war through the prisms of morality or law or justice.
    Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This is why prominent bioethicists have long emphasized trustworthiness as a central virtue of good clinicians.
    Daniel T. Kim, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025
  • The strong showing marked the fourth consecutive season in which Nazareth advanced to the state finals by virtue of a strong sectional showing, this time a second-place finish at the Maine East Sectional.
    Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Min walks off after becoming convinced Chris doesn’t see a future with him (Yang plays his character’s sadness and disappointment in himself with touching sincerity) and Lee feels betrayed after an unforeseen development comes to light, the result of a drunken evening.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The orange represents success, determination, and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, and sincerity and strength.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • To an actor, is a tale of evil more fascinating than one of goodness?
    Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Of saying, in other words, that goodness is small enough to see around.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • One is to launch uncrewed missions first, to test the reliability of the technology for making oxygen and rocket fuel, for example, or for growing crops on Mars.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Additionally, the reliability of natural gas and coal power generation sites is almost half that of nuclear facilities.
    Gary Collins, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Probity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probity. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

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