the end justifies the means

idiom

used to say that a desired result is so good or important that any method, even a morally bad one, may be used to achieve it
They believe that the end justifies the means and will do anything to get their candidate elected.

Examples of the end justifies the means in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even if the end justifies the means, there’s something icky about the whole thing. Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 6 Sep. 2024

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Dictionary Entries Near the end justifies the means

Cite this Entry

“The end justifies the means.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20end%20justifies%20the%20means. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

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