C1 · Advanced

Ethics & Virtue — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about ethics & virtue — right, wrong and moral nuance. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. amoral/ˌeɪˈmɔː.rəl/

    “Markets are essentially amoral.”

  2. unethical/ʌnˈeθ.ɪ.kəl/

    “It was an unethical practice.”

  3. iniquity/ɪˈnɪk.wɪ.ti/

    “He railed against iniquity.”

  4. probity/ˈprəʊ.bɪ.ti/

    “His probity is beyond doubt.”

  5. scruple/ˈskruː.pəl/

    “He has no scruple about it.”

  6. high-minded/ˌhaɪ ˈmaɪn.dɪd/

    “She is high-minded and fair.”

  7. righteousness/ˈraɪ.tʃəs.nəs/

    “He spoke with righteousness.”

  8. sanctimonious/ˌsæŋk.tɪˈməʊ.ni.əs/

    “His tone was sanctimonious.”

  9. hypocrisy/hɪˈpɒk.rɪ.si/

    “They exposed his hypocrisy.”

  10. duplicity/djuːˈplɪs.ɪ.ti/

    “Her duplicity was shocking.”

  11. deceitful/dɪˈsiːt.fəl/

    “He gave a deceitful answer.”

  12. candour/ˈkæn.də/

    “She spoke with refreshing candour.”

  13. incorruptible/ˌɪn.kəˈrʌp.tɪ.bəl/

    “The judge is incorruptible.”

  14. impeccable/ɪmˈpek.ə.bəl/

    “Her conduct was impeccable.”

  15. exemplary/ɪɡˈzem.plər.i/

    “He set an exemplary standard.”

  16. reprehensible/ˌrep.rɪˈhen.sɪ.bəl/

    “The act was reprehensible.”

  17. deplorable/dɪˈplɔː.rə.bəl/

    “The conditions are deplorable.”

  18. condone/kənˈdəʊn/

    “We cannot condone violence.”

  19. censure/ˈsen.ʃə/

    “The board issued a censure.”

  20. absolve/əbˈzɒlv/

    “New facts may absolve her of blame.”

  21. blameworthy/ˈbleɪm.wɜː.ði/

    “He is the most blameworthy.”

  22. remorseful/rɪˈmɔːs.fəl/

    “She felt remorseful afterwards.”

  23. penance/ˈpen.əns/

    “He did penance for the sin.”

  24. atone/əˈtəʊn/

    “He tried to atone for the lie.”

  25. redemption/rɪˈdemp.ʃən/

    “The film is about redemption.”

  26. salvation/sælˈveɪ.ʃən/

    “They sought spiritual salvation.”

  27. piety/ˈpaɪ.ə.ti/

    “Her piety was well known.”

  28. devout/dɪˈvaʊt/

    “He is a devout believer.”

  29. benevolence/bəˈnev.əl.əns/

    “His benevolence helped many.”

  30. malevolence/məˈlev.əl.əns/

    “There was malevolence in his eyes.”

  31. malice/ˈmæl.ɪs/

    “She bore him no malice.”

  32. spite/spaɪt/

    “He did it out of spite.”

  33. vindictive/vɪnˈdɪk.tɪv/

    “Her response was vindictive.”

  34. vengeful/ˈvendʒ.fəl/

    “He felt vengeful.”

  35. forgiving/fəˈɡɪv.ɪŋ/

    “She has a forgiving nature.”

  36. merciful/ˈmɜː.sɪ.fəl/

    “The judge was merciful.”

  37. mercy/ˈmɜː.si/

    “They begged for mercy.”

  38. barbarity/bɑːˈbær.ɪ.ti/

    “The barbarity appalled them.”

  39. brutality/bruːˈtæl.ɪ.ti/

    “Witnesses described the brutality.”

  40. magnanimity/ˌmæɡ.nəˈnɪm.ɪ.ti/

    “He showed great magnanimity.”

  41. moralistic/ˌmɒr.əˈlɪs.tɪk/

    “The tone was moralistic.”

  42. ethos/ˈiː.θɒs/

    “The firm has a strong ethos.”

  43. creed/kriːd/

    “Honesty is his creed.”

  44. exculpate/ˈek.skʌl.peɪt/

    “The facts exculpate the accused.”

  45. answerable/ˈɑːn.sər.ə.bəl/

    “Leaders are answerable to voters.”

  46. above board/əˌbʌv ˈbɔːd/

    “The deal was completely above board.”

  47. venal/ˈviː.nəl/

    “The official was venal.”

  48. bribe/braɪb/

    “He tried to bribe the guard.”

  49. graft/ɡrɑːft/

    “The city was plagued by graft.”

  50. ethically/ˈeθ.ɪ.kəl.i/

    “They always act ethically.”

  51. honourable/ˈɒn.ər.ə.bəl/

    “It was the honourable thing to do.”

  52. dishonourable/dɪsˈɒn.ər.ə.bəl/

    “His conduct was dishonourable.”

  53. saintly/ˈseɪnt.li/

    “She led a saintly life.”

  54. wickedness/ˈwɪk.ɪd.nəs/

    “The tale warns against wickedness.”

  55. depravity/dɪˈpræv.ɪ.ti/

    “The novel depicts moral depravity.”

  56. decadence/ˈdek.ə.dəns/

    “The court sank into decadence.”

  57. upright/ˈʌp.raɪt/

    “He is an upright citizen.”

  58. scrupulously/ˈskruː.pjə.ləs.li/

    “She was scrupulously honest.”

  59. moralise/ˈmɒr.ə.laɪz/

    “He likes to moralise to others.”

  60. goodness/ˈɡʊd.nəs/

    “She believes in human goodness.”