highroad
Principal public route
Highroad is a somewhat old-fashioned term for a main road or highway, particularly in British English.
More commonly, it appears in the figurative expression take the highroad (or high road), meaning to choose the morally superior or more dignified course of action, especially when a pettier response would be tempting.
She decided to take the highroad and not respond to the insults.
The opposite is the low road, suggesting underhanded or dishonorable conduct.
Study of right conduct
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- nobilityTitled ruling class
decency · dignity · uprightness · rectitude · probity · conscience · virtue · morality
Main public road
- direct routeStraightest path available
- arterialOf major vessels
- turnpikeFee-charging highway
Highest rank or power
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- predominanceSuperior influence or control
leadership · command · control · authority · influence · mastery · superiority · primacy
ethics
Study of right conduct
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
nobility · decency · dignity · uprightness · rectitude · probity · conscience · virtue · morality · principled
thoroughfare
Main public road
- direct routeStraightest path available
- arterialOf major vessels
- turnpikeFee-charging highway
supremacy
Highest rank or power
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- hegemonyDominant group's control
predominance · leadership · command · control · authority · influence · mastery · superiority · primacy · upper hand
highroadlow road
Underhanded course of action
below the belt · mudslinging · backstabbing · vindictiveness · dirty tactics
highroadback road
Secondary rural thoroughfare
back alley · byway · byroad · side road · back street