morals
Right and wrong
Morals are principles of right and wrong that guide behavior.
They overlap with ethics but tend to be more personal and intuitive—your morals are what you feel is right, while ethics may be codified rules.
Someone's morals might forbid lying even when ethics permit it.
She questioned his morals after the affair.
A story's moral is its lesson: The moral of the fable is that slow and steady wins the race.
Manner of conducting oneself
- decencyMoral appropriateness in behavior
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- rectitudeMoral straightness
- uprightnessMoral correctness and honesty
integrity · dignity · respectability · comportment · demeanor · modesty · civility · discipline
Study of fundamental truths
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- justiceFair treatment under law
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
responsibility · conscience · judgment · scruples · equity · truthfulness · honesty · sincerity
Principles held worthwhile
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- convictionsStrongly held beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
ideology · tenets · precepts · axioms · canons · beliefs · ideals · code
Authoritative rule to obey
- sinViolation of divine law
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
piety · sanctity · divine · scripture · sermon · transgression · repentance · absolution
Concern for others' distress
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- courageFortitude facing danger
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
patience · humility · temperance · charity · diligence · fortitude · purity · benevolence
behavior
Manner of conducting oneself
uprightness · integrity · dignity · respectability · comportment · demeanor · modesty · civility · discipline · manners
philosophy
Study of fundamental truths
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- justiceFair treatment under law
fairness · responsibility · conscience · judgment · scruples · equity · truthfulness · honesty · sincerity · bioethics
values
Principles held worthwhile
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- convictionsStrongly held beliefs
creed · ideology · tenets · precepts · axioms · canons · beliefs · ideals · code · compass
commandment
Authoritative rule to obey
- sinViolation of divine law
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
dogma · piety · sanctity · divine · scripture · sermon · transgression · repentance · absolution · confession
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- courageFortitude facing danger
wisdom · patience · humility · temperance · charity · diligence · fortitude · purity · benevolence · prudence
fable
Moral tale with animals
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- lessonUnit of teaching
Aesop · cautionary · narrative · story · teaching · edifying · instructive · exemplum · didactic · proverb
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, good
- Arabian NightsAladdin, Scheherazade, Ali Baba, Arabian Nights, Sinbad
- character traitspersonality, virtue, temperament, honor, disposition
- ethical educationvalues, ethics, character, integrity, honesty
- grandma's wisdomproverbs, sayings, adages, maxims, life lessons
moralsimmorality
Quality of being wicked
amorality · moral bankruptcy · depravity · evil · wickedness
moralsvice
Bad habit or deputy
indecency · dishonor · degeneracy · licentiousness · debauchery
moralslawlessness
Absence of governing rules
anarchy · laws · expediency · self-interest · Machiavellianism
- moral supportNon-tangible emotional assistance
- moral imperativeBinding ethical command
- moral compassInner ethical guidance system
- moral codeStandards of right conduct
- Victorian moralityRigid 1800s social standards
- moral victoryDefeat with honor intact
moral, immoral, morality, morally, amoral, immorality, moralizing, moralistic, moralist