noble 1 of 2

Definition of noblenext
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noble

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noun

as in aristocrat
a man or woman of high birth or social position an elite school for children of nobles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective noble differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of noble are ethical, moral, righteous, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When might ethical be a better fit than noble?

The synonyms ethical and noble are sometimes interchangeable, but ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

Where would moral be a reasonable alternative to noble?

While the synonyms moral and noble are close in meaning, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When can righteous be used instead of noble?

Although the words righteous and noble have much in common, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

When could virtuous be used to replace noble?

The words virtuous and noble can be used in similar contexts, but virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of noble
Adjective
All kinds of people forged unity out of noble ideals (community, sovereignty, freedom) and also out of less noble ones (racial and other exclusions and fierce anti-British sentiments). Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Having been raised not too far from similarly-minded environs, this Turkish critic knows that keeping a pure and noble familial slate in patriarchy often means oppressing women. Tomris Laffly, Variety, 20 May 2026
Noun
This observation was recorded in part by a Japanese noble named Fujiwara no Sadaie in his diary, entitled Meigetsuki. Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026 At balls that approximate what Bridgerton might be like if the charming debutantes were matched with white-haired monsters instead of handsome, age-appropriate nobles, Commanders spike their prospective Wives’ drinks. Judy Berman, Time, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for noble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noble
Adjective
  • Gentile da Foligno in Perugia Italy was one of the few regions in Latin Christendom where physicians organized into guilds in the fourteenth century and thus routinely treated the general populace, rather than merely the wealthier mercantile and aristocratic classes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
  • The couple, who went public with their relationship in 2024, swore eternal love in Arizona during a very intimate ceremony away from English castles and aristocratic residences.
    Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • Monroe’s image-making Monroe always had greater agency over her still images than her moving images, which were largely determined by the film studios and directors.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • In performance and direction, and in the small ways in which Caswell and Wills have plotted out this isolated love story, there’s a level of great richness and detail.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Congratulations to the honorable so-and-so.
    Rafael Perez, Daily News, 25 May 2026
  • Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties each had one beach with honorable status — Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes was the LA-area beach with consistently good-quality water.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • The hotel houses a magnificent collection of 20th-century prints and drawings which hang throughout the bedrooms and public spaces; spot the Picasso and the Cocteaus in the Picteau Lounge Bar.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • The Italian Lounge, for example, has a magnificent blue-and-gold ceiling imported from the Grimation Palace in Florence in the late 19th century.
    Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • Delisle was fiery and wonderful, but the angel came later.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • The retro American bar—with its picture windows right on the river—is a wonderful spot for a glass of fizz or a vintage Negroni.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • Lloyd’s long and distinguished career as an inventor and entrepreneur included an early collaboration with Nobel Prize-winning physicist and Manhattan Project scientist Luis Alvarez at the former Radiation Laboratory, now the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
  • Leaf, a distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that Middle Eastern allies of the United States recognize that Iran will likely use any money from sanctions relief to bolster its military capabilities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Both aristocrats completed their outfits with Sahag Arslanian jewelry.
    Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 23 May 2026
  • Scuffed and pockmarked, the painting looked stoic but stripped of dignity, like an old aristocrat in a hospital gown.
    Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • Newsom has since pointed to this high state funding to call on the federal government to step up its own investments into forest management work.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • The second highest waste generator that year, Tesla’s plant in Fremont, produced 115,136 pounds of MMA waste, by comparison, records show.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noble. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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