right or wrong
Binary ethical judgment
Right or wrong functions as a fixed phrase meaning regardless of correctness or moral standing—accepting something without evaluation: She supports him right or wrong.
The phrase my country, right or wrong expresses unconditional loyalty.
It can also frame a binary judgment: Tell me, right or wrong, whether I should proceed.
As a modifier, it describes moral reasoning itself: a right-or-wrong question, right-or-wrong thinking.
- moralConcerning right conduct
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
- moral compassInner ethical guidance system
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
- correctFree from error
incorrect · true · false · judgment call · good · bad · just · unjust · fair · unfair · conscience · clear conscience · gut feeling · judgment · virtue · sin · guilt · innocent
- Either/Oryes or no, true or false, on or off, in or out, up or down
- false dilemmasfalse dilemma, false dichotomy, false choice, all or nothing, black-and-white thinking
right or wrongunclear
Not easily understood
ambiguous · uncertain · indeterminate · undecidable · murky
right or wrongnuanced
Having fine distinctions
shades of gray · complicated · complex · it depends · gray area
right, wrong, rightly, wrongly, rightness, wrongness, rights, wrongs, righted