amoral
amoral — adjective
- amoralpositive
- more amoralcomparative
- most amoralsuperlative
1. not guided by any sense of right or wrong, so that a person acts for their own b
not guided by any sense of right or wrong, so that a person acts for their own benefit without caring about moral rules or principles.
Talia is completely amoral — she would lie to her closest friend to get ahead.
completely amoral — intensifier before amoral
The novel's hero is an amoral businessman who destroys his rivals without guilt.
amoral businessman — describes a type of person
Critics described the general as an amoral leader willing to sacrifice anyone for victory.
Putri was disturbed by her boss's amoral decision to sell faulty products to elderly customers.
The amoral behaviour of some politicians has made young voters lose trust in the government.
- immoral
implies knowing wrongdoing rather than a lack of moral awareness
- unprincipled
suggests a lack of fixed moral standards, often for practical gain
- unscrupulous
emphasises willingness to be dishonest for money or success
文法句型
amoral + noun
be + amoral
用法筆記
This sense describes people or their actions. It differs from immoral: an amoral person does not recognise moral categories at all, whereas an immoral person knows right from wrong but chooses to do wrong.
常見錯誤
2. existing or happening in an area where ideas of good and evil do not apply or ha
existing or happening in an area where ideas of good and evil do not apply or have no meaning; neither right nor wrong in a moral sense.
The laws of physics are completely amoral — gravity does not care who it harms.
amoral applied to natural forces
A computer virus is an amoral piece of code; calling it evil misses the point.
For a geologist, the earthquake was an amoral natural event, not a punishment.
Money itself is amoral, argued Shirin — it can build hospitals or fund arms deals.
A rockfall on a trail is an amoral event — no one can call it unfair.
文法句型
amoral + noun (abstract concept / natural phenomenon)
be + amoral
用法筆記
This sense is typically used for abstract forces, natural events, technological systems, or objects where moral judgment is impossible or irrelevant. It does not describe people — use sense 1 instead.