NYT Dictionary

MORAL

/ˈmɒɾəl/
AdjectiveNounVerbMOR-almor-al · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially conforming to principles of rectitude.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-der. Proto-Italic *mōs Latin mōs Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin mōrālis Old French moralbor. Middle English moral English moral From Middle English moral, from Old French moral, from Latin mōrālis (“relating to manners or morals”) (first used by Cicero, to translate Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ēthikós, “moral”)), from mos (“manner, custom”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

ethicalgooddecentrighteousacceptableappropriatecourteousdecorousmannerlyproper

Antonyms

immoralunethicalcorruptunscrupulousamoralnon-moralpseudomoralunmoral

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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