moral rectitude
Principled good character
Moral rectitude is strict adherence to ethical principles—uprightness of character and conduct.
The phrase carries a formal, sometimes old-fashioned tone, often appearing in contexts of public service or religious discourse: a judge known for her moral rectitude, He questioned whether politicians had any moral rectitude left.
It can sound self-righteous when someone claims it for themselves.
- probityThorough moral honesty
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
uprightness · straight and narrow · good character · scrupulousness · unimpeachability · beyond reproach · virtue · doing the right thing · incorruptibility · accountability · duty · justice · irreproachability · man of honor · humility · fidelity · clean conscience · deontology
- integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, probity
- virtuesintegrity, honesty, justice, courage, fairness
- work ethicdiligence, hard worker, industriousness, go-getter, hard work
- puritypure, purity, pristine, spotless, spotlessness
- Islamic spiritualityihsan, Sufism, spiritual purification, self-purification, God-consciousness
moral rectitudecorruption
Dishonest abuse of power
depravity · vice · moral turpitude · wickedness · immorality
moral rectitudedebauchery
Extreme indulgence in vices
licentiousness · dissipation · profligacy · decadence · libertinism