amorally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amorally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are not guided by moral considerations or principles. Example: "The corporation operated amorally, prioritizing profit over ethical concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It should be noted that TLC, which I've called The Leering Channel, with such shows as "Addicted to Food," "I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day," "750 Pound Man," "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," "Mermaid Girl," and "Paralyzed and Pregnant," acted consistently amorally throughout the drama; it got drunk on the ratings and announced its intention to keep the show going as long as the couple wanted.

The New Yorker

"It was not amorally calculating managers violating rules that were responsible for the tragedy," she writes.

The New Yorker

But other films that locate ecstasy outside progress, as, for instance, in amorally hedonistic experience — such as Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" — prove troubling to liberal audiences because their aesthetic virtues and ruthless delights pose as much of a challenge to progressive values as they do to Christian ones.

The New Yorker

Arthur Seaton, the frequently drunk, amorally libidinous 22-year-old factory worker in "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" (1958), sees the world as an us-against-them proposition.

The New York Times - Books

A university cannot allow its students to rampage so destructively — and so amorally — without consequences.

The New York Times

That's the moral of Ted Cruz, who has behaved amorally here.

The New York Times

Many ordinary citizens now fuming about the industrial scale at which banks and other big financial firms engage in tax avoidance do not realise that, every month, many of us are paying into a pension fund that in all likelihood is acting just as amorally.

The Guardian

But then I would almost certainly have just stayed in my cell, sitting the war out, amorally.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

People must be encouraged to compete fiercely and amorally against each other, motivated solely by personal gain, yet also prevented from taking this to its logical conclusion and simply killing or stealing to get the other guy's stuff.

The Guardian - Opinion

Read more 6 Charlie Brooker is showing us the abyss into which we are amorally plummeting.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When Michel Houellebecq's mother disowned him for producing what she saw as a travesty of her real self in his fiction, Houellebecq retreated into the French role of the amorally licensed artist.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "amorally" to describe actions or decisions where moral considerations are explicitly absent or irrelevant, rather than as a synonym for "immorally", which implies a violation of moral principles.

Common error

Avoid using "amorally" when you actually mean "immorally". "Amorally" describes a lack of moral concern, while "immorally" describes a violation of moral principles. For example, it is incorrect to say "He acted amorally by stealing", when you should say "He acted immorally by stealing".

Linguistic Context

Amorally" functions primarily as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action is performed without moral considerations. Ludwig's examples show it describing how corporations, managers, and individuals act without regard to ethical principles.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amorally" is an adverb that describes actions performed without moral consideration. According to Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and most commonly found in News & Media contexts. While "amorally" indicates a lack of moral concern, it is important not to confuse it with "immorally", which indicates a violation of moral principles. When writing, consider using alternatives such as "without moral principles" or "devoid of morals" for clarity or emphasis. "Amorally" helps to objectively describe behavior without necessarily judging it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without moral principles

This alternative emphasizes the lack of guiding moral beliefs.

devoid of morals

Highlights the absence of moral values in a more forceful way.

without ethical considerations

Focuses specifically on the lack of ethical thought in decision-making.

in an unprincipled manner

Describes actions that are not guided by principles.

lacking moral scruples

Emphasizes the absence of hesitation due to moral concerns.

ethically neutral

Suggests that the action or decision is neither moral nor immoral but falls outside ethical considerations.

beyond moral judgment

Indicates that the situation or action cannot be evaluated using moral standards.

non-moral

A more direct and concise way of saying not involving morality.

outside the realm of morality

Frames the concept as existing separately from moral concerns.

irrespective of morality

Indicates that moral considerations are not taken into account.

FAQs

How is "amorally" used in a sentence?

The word "amorally" describes an action done without consideration for morals. For example: "The corporation operated "amorally", prioritizing profit over ethical concerns."

What words can I use instead of "amorally"?

Alternatives to "amorally" include "unethically", "without moral principles", or "devoid of morals", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "amorally" and "immorally"?

"Amorally" means without morals or being indifferent to moral considerations, whereas "immorally" means violating or acting against accepted moral standards.

Is it better to say someone acted "amorally" or "without morals"?

Both are correct, but "amorally" is more concise. "Without morals" is more descriptive and might be preferred for clarity in some contexts.