Synonyms

high-minded

American

[hahy-mahyn-did] / ˈhaɪˈmaɪn dɪd /

adjective

having or showing high, exalted principles or feelings.

Synonyms:

scrupulous, idealistic, ethical, fair, honest, principled

high-minded British

adjective

having or characterized by high moral principles
archaic arrogant; haughty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See noble.

Other Word Forms

high-mindedly adverb
high-mindedness noun

Etymology

Origin of high-minded

First recorded in 1495–1505

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.

The opera offers a look at how the Civil War ended with high-minded statesmanship.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

It was once the job of “sleazy” tabloids to destroy lives with lurid gossip that titillated the public but lacked public interest in the high-minded sense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

I want to be very high-minded about this.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2025

That’s not some high-minded ideal — it should be the bare minimum.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2025

I knew the relaxed patois of the South Side and the high-minded diction of the Ivy League, and now on top of that I spoke Lawyer, too.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023