mores
A community's standards
Mores are the customs, conventions, and moral attitudes that define acceptable behavior within a particular group or society.
Unlike laws, mores aren't formally codified but carry significant social weight—violating them invites disapproval, ostracism, or worse.
The word often appears in discussions of cultural norms: Victorian mores dictated strict separation of the sexes.
Sexual mores and social mores are common collocations.
The word is pronounced with two syllables (MOR-ayz).
Traditional practices or import taxes
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
codes · propriety · decorum · conformity · behavior · conduct · guidelines · prescriptions
Customs of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- civilityFormal politeness in conduct
graciousness · decorum · propriety · social graces · respectability · formalities
Ceremonial repeated practices
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
customs · practices · ancestry · observances · cultural practices · traditional values
Formal orders against something
- forbiddenNot allowed
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- violationsBreaches of rules
transgressions · sacrilege · blasphemy · indecency · ostracism · disgrace · infamy
Principles held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
righteousness · duty · honor · scruples · rectitude · probity · uprightness · ethical standards
customs
Traditional practices or import taxes
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
rules · codes · propriety · decorum · conformity · behavior · conduct · guidelines · prescriptions · socialization
manners
Customs of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
civility · graciousness · decorum · propriety · social graces · respectability · formalities
rituals
Ceremonial repeated practices
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
heritage · customs · practices · ancestry · observances · cultural practices · traditional values
prohibitions
Formal orders against something
violations · transgressions · sacrilege · blasphemy · indecency · ostracism · disgrace · infamy
values
Principles held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- conscienceInternal moral sense
integrity · righteousness · duty · honor · scruples · rectitude · probity · uprightness · ethical standards · right and wrong
- normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
- culturemusic taste, beliefs, food preferences, custom, festivals
- customscustoms, customs clearance, wedding custom, customs declaration, burial custom
- demeanorbehavior, conduct, deportment, bearing, demeanor
- ruleslaw, rule, guideline, bylaw, standard
- social codessocial norms, social norm, unwritten rule, unspoken rule, unspoken rules
moresimpropriety
Unsuitable or inappropriate behavior
transgression · deviance · immorality · indiscretion · scandal
moreslaws
Enforceable societal rules
legislation · statutes · legal code · written law · ordinances
morespersonal choice
individual liberty · nonconformity · individualism · unconventionality · iconoclasm
- more thanIn excess of
- no moreQuantity has ended
- more or lessApproximately, not exactly
- more and moreIn rising measure
- even moreIncreased beyond already
- one moreAdditional instance requested
more, moral, immoral, morality, morals, morale, morally, amoral, demoralize