morally
gb/mˈɔɹəli/ us/mˈɔɹəli/
B2
Inglés
~ 8800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adverb
B2
property
1
in terms of morality or ethics
In a way that is about what is right or wrong, good or bad, in behavior.
Patrón de uso:
morally [adjective]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "morally" with "morale" (the mood or confidence of a group). They also sometimes say *"more moral"* instead of "morally" before adjectives, as in *"It is morally wrong"* (not *"It is more moral wrong"*). Remember that "morally" is an adverb, often used before adjectives like "wrong", "right", "acceptable".
Sinónimos
ethically (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in professional or academic contexts.)
Antónimos
immorally (Describes actions done in a way that clearly goes against accepted ideas of right and wrong.)
Colocaciones
morally wrong
|morally right
|morally acceptable
|morally questionable
|morally neutral
|morally obligated
Temas
ethics
|society
|philosophy
|law
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Many people believe it is morally wrong to lie, even to protect someone’s feelings.
- The company argued that, while their actions were legal, they were not morally right.
- She felt morally obligated to report the corruption she had seen.
- From a moral standpoint, the decision was clearly, morally unacceptable.
- Politicians are often judged not only legally but also morally by the public.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He thinks it is morally wrong to cheat on a test.
- The plan is legal, but is it morally right?
- She feels morally obligated to help her parents.
- Some people say eating meat is morally acceptable.
- The judge said the law is clear, but the case is morally difficult.
adverb
C1
property
2
in a morally good way
In a way that follows good, honest, and right rules of behavior.
Patrón de uso:
to [verb] morally
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "morally" where an adjective is needed, for example *"He is a morally person"* instead of "He is a moral person" or "He lives morally." Use "moral" before a noun ("a moral person") and "morally" to describe how someone acts ("to act morally").
Sinónimos
virtuously (Highlights strong moral goodness and purity, often with a slightly formal or religious tone.)
Antónimos
immorally (Describes behaving in a way that breaks accepted moral rules.)
Colocaciones
live morally
|act morally
|behave morally
|morally pure
|morally upright
Temas
ethics
|personal_life
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- He tries to live morally, even when no one is watching him.
- They believe that parents should act morally to set a good example for their children.
- She felt proud that she had behaved morally in a very difficult situation.
- The leader was respected because he handled power morally and fairly.
- Some people struggle to act morally when they are under strong pressure at work.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He wants to live morally and be a good person.
- She always tries to act morally at her job.
- They teach their children to behave morally.
- The teacher is a person who lives morally.
- It is not easy to do business morally in that industry.
adverb
formal
C2
property
3
practically, though not absolutely, certain
So likely that we can treat it as sure, even if it is not 100% proven.
Patrón de uso:
morally certain that [clause]
Error frecuente:
Learners rarely use this sense and may misread "morally certain" as relating to ethics instead of a very high level of confidence. In this formal phrase, "morally" means "for all real purposes" or "practically", not "about right and wrong".
Sinónimos
practically (Focuses on real-world certainty rather than strict logical or mathematical proof; often more common in everyday speech.)
Antónimos
doubtfully (Suggests that something is far from certain and should be regarded with doubt.)
Colocaciones
morally certain
|morally impossible
|almost morally certain
Temas
law
|philosophy
|science
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Given the evidence, the jury was morally certain that the defendant was guilty.
- We can be morally certain that the sun will rise tomorrow, even if we cannot prove it with absolute certainty.
- It is morally impossible for him to have been in two places at once.
- Although no eyewitnesses came forward, investigators were morally certain about what had happened.
- Philosophers sometimes distinguish between being logically certain and being morally certain.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The police are morally certain that he did it.
- Scientists are morally certain that smoking is bad for health.
- We are morally certain the train will come, even if we cannot know it 100%.
- The judge said he was morally certain of the facts.
- I am morally certain she is telling the truth.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
morally
AFI
GB/mˈɔɹəli/
US/mˈɔɹəli/
Sílabas y acento
mor - ally (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (mor)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: morally
- Plural: morallies
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
morally acceptable
1/mˈɔɹəli æksˈɛptəbəl/
fixed phrase
considered ethically okay
Seen as okay or allowed according to ideas of right and wrong.
Ejemplos
- Many people do not consider animal testing morally acceptable.
- He asked whether it was morally acceptable to keep the money.
- What is morally acceptable can change over time.
morally ambiguous
1/mˈɔɹəli æmbˈɪɡjuəs/
fixed phrase
ethically unclear or mixed
Not clearly right or clearly wrong in a moral way; having both good and bad sides.
Ejemplos
- The film’s hero is a morally ambiguous character who does bad things for good reasons.
- War often puts soldiers in morally ambiguous situations.
- The story presents a morally ambiguous choice for the main character.
morally neutral
1/mˈɔɹəli nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
neither morally good nor bad
Neither good nor bad in a moral way; not about right or wrong.
Ejemplos
- Some people see technology as morally neutral; it depends how you use it.
- The action itself is morally neutral, but the reason behind it matters.
- He argued that the tool is morally neutral, but the users are not.
morally obliged to
1/mˈɔɹəli əblˈaɪd͡ʒd tə/
fixed phrase
feeling a moral duty to act
Feeling that you must do something because it is the right thing to do, not because the law or rules say so.
Ejemplos
- She felt morally obliged to help her neighbor after the fire.
- Doctors may feel morally obliged to speak out about poor hospital conditions.
- I am not legally required, but I feel morally obliged to tell you the truth.
morally right
1/mˈɔɹəli ɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
ethically good or correct
Right and good according to ideas of right and wrong; ethically correct.
Ejemplos
- She believed it was morally right to tell the truth, even if it hurt.
- Donating to charity is often seen as the morally right thing to do.
- He tried to choose the option that felt morally right.
morally speaking
1/mˈɔɹəli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
from a moral point of view
Used before a sentence to show that you are talking about something in terms of right and wrong.
Ejemplos
- Morally speaking, I think we should refuse the offer.
- Morally speaking, what they did was not acceptable.
- Legally you may be safe, but morally speaking you are still responsible.
morally superior
1/mˈɔɹəli supˈɪɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
feeling ethically better than others
Thinking that your ideas of right and wrong are better than other people’s, often in a proud or annoying way.
Ejemplos
- He sounded morally superior when he criticized everyone else’s choices.
- Nobody likes a friend who acts morally superior all the time.
- The article was criticized for its morally superior tone.
morally wrong
1/mˈɔɹəli ɹˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
ethically bad or unacceptable
Not right or good according to ideas of right and wrong; ethically bad.
Ejemplos
- Many people feel that lying is morally wrong, even in small things.
- He knew it was legal, but still thought it was morally wrong.
- They argued that it is morally wrong to punish children in that way.
morally bankrupt
1/mˈɔɹəli bˈæŋkɹəpt/
fixed phrase
having no moral principles
Having very poor or no real ideas of right and wrong; showing no care for what is morally good.
Ejemplos
- Many voters saw the government as morally bankrupt after the scandal.
- Many people now see the leadership as morally bankrupt.
- The film shows a morally bankrupt businessman who only cares about money.
- She called the decision morally bankrupt and refused to support it.
- Critics called the company’s behavior morally bankrupt.
- The film shows a morally bankrupt society obsessed with power.
morally questionable
1/mˈɔɹəli kwˈɛst͡ʃənəbəl/
fixed phrase
ethically doubtful or suspect
Not clearly right or wrong, but making people think it may be wrong in a moral way.
Ejemplos
- Even if it is legal, their use of customer data is morally questionable.
- Their use of personal data was seen as morally questionable.
- The experiment was stopped because it was seen as morally questionable.
- He made a lot of money in a morally questionable way.
- The project raises some morally questionable issues.