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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Singling out specific regimes risks alienating allies, undermining U.S. moral authority, and reinforcing authoritarians’ claims that Washington meddles in other countries’ domestic affairs. Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2024 Whereas the previous administration expressed a profound belief in engagement as the best way to avoid conflict and in the moral authority of the United Nations, the incoming administration will view engagement as the product of, and not a substitute for, hard power. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024 That does not necessarily elevate their moral authority or give them the right to hand out easy verdicts. Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 Gomez succeeded longtime Cardinal Roger Mahony, whose handling of the scandal drew fierce criticism and undercut his moral authority as one of America’s most prominent Roman Catholic leaders. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 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 26 Dec. 2024.

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