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

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Throughout our history, presidents good, bad, great, and terrible have placed tremendous value in our moral authority, encouraging us to set an example for the world. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 What happens to America’s moral authority to check China’s ambitions vis-à-vis Taiwan, for example, or to challenge Russia’s revanchist playbook for Central and Eastern Europe? Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jan. 2025 But officials said that what the region needed, in addition to the fire and police officials who directed the response, was a political leader displaying moral authority and leadership, with the platform to speak across the expanse of a county whose population is larger than that of most states. Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025 In this election, Democrats asserted their moral authority while making an elaborate effort to whisper away their vast economic power. Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for moral authority 

Dictionary Entries Near moral authority

Cite this Entry

“Moral authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moral%20authority. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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