moral authority

noun

: trustworthiness to make decisions that are right and good
The scandal has undermined the government's moral authority.

Examples of moral authority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
America was losing its moral authority in the world (think Abu Ghraib and the torture memo). Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026 The assumption beneath much of this movement is that religion speaks with the moral authority of a unified voice on when life begins, and that voice points clearly to conception. Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026 The overpowering moral authority of wronged women, #MeToo’s skeptics alleged, would allow cynical wrongdoers to weaponize claims of victimhood for their own gain. Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 9 June 2026 He is associated with Catholic integralism, a view that Catholic social doctrine should shape public life, that the church’s moral authority matters in the political sphere. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for moral authority

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moral authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moral%20authority. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster