high-minded

adjective

high-mind·​ed ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce high-minded (audio)
: marked by elevated principles and feelings
also : pretentious
too high-minded to read any fiction Alfred Kazin
high-mindedly adverb
high-mindedness noun

Examples of high-minded in a Sentence

high-minded efforts to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate she was too high-minded to admit publicly to watching trashy movies, but privately she loved them
Recent Examples on the Web The biggest emotional gut punch comes not from anything that happens to Strings, but when Essie is predictably cast aside as yet another pawn in the crooner's game of high-minded self-absorption. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024 Introduced as a chance for high-minded singles earnestly seeking lifelong love to find their soulmates, sight unseen, the show has since faced constant controversy, ranging from participants’ complaints about the conditions on set to a handful of alarming lawsuits. Judy Berman, TIME, 9 Oct. 2024 Now such tastings are considerably less high-minded, and, if conducted with conviviality in mind, a way of getting together without the preparation and expense of a full dinner party. John Mariani, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 This rhetoric may sound high-minded, but—not surprisingly—Altman’s position is also somewhat self-interested. Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for high-minded 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'high-minded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-minded was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near high-minded

Cite this Entry

“High-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-minded. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

high-minded

adjective
high-mind·​ed
ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd
: having or expressing noble ideas and feelings
high-mindedly adverb
high-mindedness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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