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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective noble differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of noble are ethical, moral, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When might ethical be a better fit than noble?

The synonyms ethical and noble are sometimes interchangeable, but ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

Where would moral be a reasonable alternative to noble?

While the synonyms moral and noble are close in meaning, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When can righteous be used instead of noble?

Although the words righteous and noble have much in common, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When could virtuous be used to replace noble?

The words virtuous and noble can be used in similar contexts, but virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of noble
Adjective
Still, the film thankfully skirts the edge of any dismaying tropes and instead pays off his various noble feints. Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 30 June 2025 Serving such a noble nation is the honor of my life. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Noun
While Henry worries about the risks of invasion by Spain or of a religious civil war, Cromwell, whom nobles nickname Crumb for his low birth, envisions a world that’s less beholden to ancient hierarchies. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025 In the past few centuries, land has changed hands on major scales: from nobles to commoners during the French Revolution, from Native peoples to European settlers in North America, and from the wealthy to the poor in China, Russia, and Mexico. The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for noble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noble
Adjective
  • Unlike many royal spouses of the past, Princess Kate wasn't born into an aristocratic family with nobility or royal titles.
    Stephanie Petit, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • In an aristocratic residence near Cassis on the Mediterranean coast, Camp Joli is prepping itself for its second season.
    Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is a great NBA Summer League matchup; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • This is a great day to schmooze with friends and members of groups and organizations.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Different views on the topic Some readers challenge the emphasis on political decorum, arguing that respect must be earned through honorable conduct rather than election victories.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • Or that America's founding principles are honorable and created a superpower that leads the world.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • The July full moon put on a magnificent show on July 10, rising low over the southern horizon to the delight of stargazers and astrophotographers worldwide.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 11 July 2025
  • Paleontologists have spent decades hotly debating why such magnificent beasts went extinct, the emerging picture involving a one-two punch of increasing human influence on the landscape and a warmer interglacial climate that began to change the world’s ecosystems.
    Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • This no-churn ice cream recipe extracts all the wonderful flavor from the corn by simmering both the kernels and cobs in whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk to make sure every bite is filled with corn flavor.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 14 July 2025
  • So many wonderful age gap and power dynamics going on in this novel that really set the tone for a whole generation of writers to come.
    Hattie Williams July 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Bruce Yandle is a distinguished adjunct fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and former executive director of the Federal Trade Commission.
    Bruce Yandle, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
  • Only the day before, the distinguished British medical journal the Lancet published a study warning about the potential consequences now looming.
    Butch Meily, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • To say it was highly anticipated is an understatement: crowds gathered outside the church, as did the press, eager to see the high ranking British aristocrat wed one of the country’s wealthiest women.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 July 2025
  • The first half of S1 covered Morpheus/Dream's (Tom Sturridge) capture and long imprisonment by British aristocrat Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance) and later his son Alex (Laurie Kynaston).
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Supertall skyscrapers are buildings that stand 300 meters (around 984 feet) or higher, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • In Chicago, that figure is even higher, with the average nuptials ringing up at $54,190, per the wedding planning service.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noble. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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