noble
Americanadjective
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distinguished by rank or title.
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pertaining to persons so distinguished.
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of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.
- Synonyms:
- blue-blooded, patrician, aristocratic, highborn
- Antonyms:
- bourgeois, middle-class, working-class, lower-class, common, lowborn, baseborn
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of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence.
a noble thought.
- Synonyms:
- worthy, estimable, honorable, magnanimous, principled, high-minded, elevated, lofty, meritorious
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admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition.
a noble poem.
- Antonyms:
- unrespected, disreputable, undignified
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very impressive or imposing in appearance.
a noble monument.
- Synonyms:
- imperial, regal, impressive, splendid, imposing, magnificent, stately, grand, majestic, lordly
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of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent
- Synonyms:
- exceptional, exemplary, outstanding, notable, noteworthy
- Antonyms:
- unexceptional, ordinary, inferior
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famous; illustrious; renowned.
- Synonyms:
- distinguished, celebrated, famed
- Antonyms:
- obscure, unknown, remarkable
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Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.
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Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.
noun
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a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.
- Synonyms:
- patrician, blue blood, aristocrat, peer
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a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.
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(in Britain) a peer.
adjective
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of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period
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of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous
a noble deed
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having dignity or eminence; illustrious
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grand or imposing; magnificent
a noble avenue of trees
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of superior quality or kind; excellent
a noble strain of horses
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chem
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(of certain elements) chemically unreactive
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(of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation
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falconry
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designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above Compare ignoble
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designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon
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noun
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a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent
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(in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent
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a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound
Related Words
Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.
Other Word Forms
- nobleness noun
- nobly adverb
- nonnoble adjective
- overnoble adjective
- overnobleness noun
- overnobly adverb
- pseudonoble adjective
Etymology
Origin of noble
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to (g)nō-, root of (g)nōscere “to get to know, find out” + -bilis adjective suffix; know 1, -ble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You are not being noble or righteous by slowing other people down, you’re creating danger.
From Los Angeles Times
Not so if you confess to streaming military thrillers while other, nobler souls are busy contemplating peace on earth.
That’s because it includes a spectrum of voices from across our culture – nobles and villagers, Black and Indigenous figures, women, British loyalists, philosophers and soldiers among them.
From Salon
She burrows into the bruised soul of Anna with such understanding and intelligence that Anna emerges as a figure both noble and powerfully moving.
Indeed, it can create the noblest magic known to all mankind.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
