morally
in terms of morality or ethics
In a way that is about what is right or wrong, good or bad, in behavior.
morally [adjective]
- 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.
- 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.
in a morally good way
In a way that follows good, honest, and right rules of behavior.
to [verb] morally
- 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.
- 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.
practically, though not absolutely, certain
So likely that we can treat it as sure, even if it is not 100% proven.
morally certain that [clause]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: morally
- Plural: morallies
morally acceptable
1considered ethically okay
Seen as okay or allowed according to ideas of right and wrong.
- 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
1ethically unclear or mixed
Not clearly right or clearly wrong in a moral way; having both good and bad sides.
- 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
1neither morally good nor bad
Neither good nor bad in a moral way; not about right or wrong.
- 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
1feeling 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.
- 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
1ethically good or correct
Right and good according to ideas of right and wrong; ethically correct.
- 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
1from a moral point of view
Used before a sentence to show that you are talking about something in terms of right and wrong.
- 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
1feeling 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.
- 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
1ethically bad or unacceptable
Not right or good according to ideas of right and wrong; ethically bad.
- 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
1having no moral principles
Having very poor or no real ideas of right and wrong; showing no care for what is morally good.
- 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
1ethically doubtful or suspect
Not clearly right or wrong, but making people think it may be wrong in a moral way.
- 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.