highminded
Guided by ideals
Highminded describes someone guided by noble principles or elevated ideals rather than self-interest.
The word can be straightforwardly admiring: a highminded commitment to justice.
But it often carries a whiff of impracticality or self-righteousness—someone so focused on lofty principles they ignore messy realities: His highminded refusal to compromise doomed the negotiation.
Having strong moral beliefs
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- moralConcerning right conduct
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- uprightVertical or morally sound
honorable · scrupulous · righteous · integrity · rectitude · incorruptible · ethical · trustworthy
Composed and respectable
- elevatedRaised above usual level
- refinedPurified or cultured
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- magnanimousNoble and forgiving
gallant · chivalrous · gracious · stately · distinguished · genteel · aristocratic · patrician
Imaginative planner of futures
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
aspirational · romantic · starry-eyed · optimistic · reformist · progressive · egalitarian · humanitarian
principled
Having strong moral beliefs
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- moralConcerning right conduct
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
upright · honorable · scrupulous · righteous · integrity · rectitude · incorruptible · ethical · trustworthy · sincere
dignified
Composed and respectable
- elevatedRaised above usual level
- refinedPurified or cultured
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
magnanimous · gallant · chivalrous · gracious · stately · distinguished · genteel · aristocratic · patrician · lordly
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
dreamer · aspirational · romantic · starry-eyed · optimistic · reformist · progressive · egalitarian · humanitarian · crusader
cerebral
Relating to intellect
philosophical · literary · cultured · academic · highbrow · rarefied · esoteric · abstract · contemplative · thoughtful
highmindedselfish
Concerned only with oneself
cynical · self-serving · unprincipled · jaded · mercenary
highmindedpetty
Of little importance
small-minded · narrow-minded · mean-spirited · pettifogging · trivial
high, higher, highest, highly, highness, mind, minded, minds, minding