Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

moral sense

American  

noun

  1. the ability to determine the rightness or wrongness of actions.


Etymology

Origin of moral sense

First recorded in 1690–1700

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.

Yet Ford continued to publicize his “victory,” and in a practical if not a moral sense he proved his point.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

But then neither is Kate; she has a good enough moral sense to pass as a hero, but the exquisite tension of “The Diplomat” is almost always between the lesser of two evils.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

Withdrawing funding for a promising experimental vaccine makes no financial or moral sense.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025

Wilson believed that people had an innate moral sense, and he had great faith in their judgment.

From Slate • Aug. 7, 2024

We have formed your society in a particular way in the hope that you will rediscover the moral sense most of us have lost.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "moral sense" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com