the moral high ground
noun
: a position in which one has a moral advantage over others
These countries lost/ceded the moral high ground when they entered the war to protect their economic interests.
She believes she has the moral high ground on this issue.
Examples of the moral high ground in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The profound loss of life – starting with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and followed by Israeli strikes in Gaza and an ensuing humanitarian crisis – has created a situation in which many feel there can be no winners and the moral high ground is shaky at best.
—
Victoria Ivie, Orange County Register, 7 Oct. 2024
Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)
Keeping the moral high ground?
—USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
One is likely to stumble when claiming the moral high ground too soon after committing the almost unpardonably rude act of scolding the chief mourners for their handling of the death announcements.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2024
As tensions boil over in Venezuela, control of the narrative and the moral high ground over the past week has been essential.
—Alex González Ormerod, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
How can a movement that claims the moral high ground make excuses for any kind of bigotry?
18.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 8 June 2024
Anyone uncertain about who maintains the moral high ground in the Israel-Hamas war need only to look at the use of hospitals by both sides.
—Evan Nierman, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2024
As time passes and the number of Palestinians killed continues to rise, Hamas’s atrocities on October 7 are fading from public consciousness, and Israel’s have weakened its own case to possess the moral high ground.
—Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024
That is because the point of shaming is not just to try to change a state’s behavior but also to stake the moral high ground, earning credit with the public and winning the favor of other countries.
—Rochelle Terman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
Victoria Ivie, Orange County Register, 7 Oct. 2024
Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)
Keeping the moral high ground?
—USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
One is likely to stumble when claiming the moral high ground too soon after committing the almost unpardonably rude act of scolding the chief mourners for their handling of the death announcements.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2024
As tensions boil over in Venezuela, control of the narrative and the moral high ground over the past week has been essential.
—Alex González Ormerod, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
How can a movement that claims the moral high ground make excuses for any kind of bigotry?
18.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 8 June 2024
Anyone uncertain about who maintains the moral high ground in the Israel-Hamas war need only to look at the use of hospitals by both sides.
—Evan Nierman, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2024
As time passes and the number of Palestinians killed continues to rise, Hamas’s atrocities on October 7 are fading from public consciousness, and Israel’s have weakened its own case to possess the moral high ground.
—Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024
That is because the point of shaming is not just to try to change a state’s behavior but also to stake the moral high ground, earning credit with the public and winning the favor of other countries.
—Rochelle Terman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the moral high ground.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the moral high ground
Cite this Entry
“The moral high ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20moral%20high%20ground. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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