moral

/'mɔrəl/

Thân thiện

A teacher explains the moral of a fable to her students.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to principles of right and wrong behavior: Concerned with or adhering to standards of good character and ethical conduct.
   • Psychological or emotional rather than physical: Having an effect on the mind, spirit, or confidence, rather than being tangible.

2. Noun:

   • A lesson about right conduct learned from a story or event: The practical significance or ethical message conveyed by a tale or experience.
   • (plural: morals) Principles of behavior; standards of conduct: An individual's or group's understanding of what is good and bad in behavior.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She faced a moral dilemma about whether to tell the truth. (She faced an ethical dilemma.)
  • The team provided moral support during the difficult time. (The team provided psychological or emotional support.)
  • He leads a very moral life. (He lives a life characterized by good ethical principles.)

• Noun:

  • The moral of the fable is that honesty is the best policy. (The lesson of the fable is about honesty.)
  • His morals are beyond reproach. (His standards of ethical conduct are impeccable.)

Advanced Usage

• "Moral high ground": A position of superior ethical status in an argument or conflict.
  • By admitting the mistake, the company sought to claim the moral high ground.
• "Moral compass": An inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's actions.
  • Her strong moral compass always leads her to do what is right.
• "Moral obligation": A duty based on ethical principles rather than legal rules.
  • We have a moral obligation to help those in need.

Variants and Related Words

• Morality (n): Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
  • The debate centered on questions of public morality.
• Morally (adv): In a way relating to morals or ethics; from a moral perspective.
  • He acted morally and refused to take part in the scheme.
• Moralize (v): To comment on issues of right and wrong, typically in a self-righteous or tedious way.
  • He tends to moralize instead of offering practical help.
• Amoral (adj): Lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with right or wrong.
• Immoral (adj): Not conforming to accepted standards of morality.

Synonyms

• Adjective (ethical sense): Ethical, principled, righteous, virtuous.
• Adjective (psychological sense): Psychological, emotional, mental.
• Noun (lesson): Lesson, message, meaning, point.
• Noun (principles): Ethics, principles, standards, scruples.

Related Phrases

• Moral support: Encouragement or sympathy that gives someone confidence.
  • Thank you for your moral support during my exams.
• Moral victory: A defeat that has some of the satisfaction of victory because one's principles or goals were shown to be right.
  • Although they lost the vote, they considered it a moral victory for their cause.
• Moral fiber: Strength of character in adhering to moral principles.
  • The challenging situation tested his moral fiber.

Idioms

• To take the moral high road: To behave in the most ethical way, especially when others are not.
  • Despite the insults, she chose to take the moral high road and not respond in kind.
• A question of morals: An issue involving ethical judgment.
  • Whether to report your friend is a question of morals.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. psychological rather than physical or tangible in effect
   • a moral victory
   • moral support
2. concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
   • moral sense
   • a moral scrutiny
   • a moral lesson
   • a moral quandary
   • moral convictions
   • a moral life

Noun

1. the significance of a story or event
   • the moral of the story is to love thy neighbor

Từ đồng nghĩa

• lesson