high-minded
Guided by principles
High-minded describes someone guided by elevated principles or ideals rather than practical or selfish concerns: a high-minded commitment to justice, high-minded idealism.
The word can carry a whiff of impracticality or self-righteousness—suggesting someone whose lofty principles don't quite meet reality.
Pursuing unrealistic standards
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
- honorableHaving high moral standards
righteous · moral · upstanding · scrupulous · conscientious · integrity · principled · decent
Raised above usual level
- exaltedElevated in rank
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- aspirationalStriving toward ideals
visionary · utopian · grandiose · rarefied · ethereal · abstract · impractical · unworldly
Concerned with others' welfare
- philanthropicDevoted to human welfare
- benevolentDesiring others' welfare
- charitableGiving to those needing
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
compassionate · magnanimous · generous · unselfish · big-hearted · kindhearted · public-spirited · well-intentioned
Feigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- moralisticProne to lecturing others
priggish · pompous · condescending · snobbish · elitist · haughty · smug · judgmental
Relating to intellect
- scholarlyMarked by serious learning
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
- learnedHaving much knowledge
- philosophicalConcerned with fundamental truths
cultured · refined · enlightened · thoughtful · contemplative · discerning · sophisticated · literary
idealistic
Pursuing unrealistic standards
honorable · righteous · moral · upstanding · scrupulous · conscientious · integrity · principled · decent · just
elevated
Raised above usual level
- exaltedElevated in rank
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
aspirational · visionary · utopian · grandiose · rarefied · ethereal · abstract · impractical · unworldly · quixotic
selfless
Concerned with others' welfare
- philanthropicDevoted to human welfare
- benevolentDesiring others' welfare
- charitableGiving to those needing
humanitarian · compassionate · magnanimous · generous · unselfish · big-hearted · kindhearted · public-spirited · well-intentioned · do-gooder
sanctimonious
Feigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
moralistic · priggish · pompous · condescending · snobbish · elitist · haughty · smug · judgmental · pious
cerebral
Relating to intellect
philosophical · cultured · refined · enlightened · thoughtful · contemplative · discerning · sophisticated · literary · academic
- ___-minded words
- integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, rectitude
- moral virtuesvirtues, honesty, righteousness, integrity, virtue
high-mindedunprincipled
Lacking moral standards
base · debased · immoral · unscrupulous · ignoble
high-mindedself-serving
Benefiting oneself primarily
selfish · mercenary · venal · petty · low-minded
high-mindedpetty
Of little importance
small-minded · narrow-minded · mean · narrow · mean-spirited
high, height, highly, highlight, higher, remind, highest, mindful, reminder