moral impediment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moral impediment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a moral or ethical barrier that stands in the way of achieving a goal. For example, "Belden refused to enter into the business transaction, citing a moral impediment".

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedia

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the other hand, there may be political, ideological, or moral impediments to the elimination of a minority, even if it is disliked.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On the subject of a capitation grant, O'Reily was strongly supportive, arguing that moral impediments prevented Catholics from using secular education, and that, since religious schools provided elements of secular education as well as religious instruction, they should receive government assistance.

Wikipedia

Scientific research on the efficacy of torture and rough interrogation is limited, because of the moral and legal impediments to experimentation.

The New Yorker

Religion is often cast an impediment to slavery's moral stigmatization.

Huffington Post

Those who would not do it justified their decision as being related to legal impediments (74.8%) and moral aspects (64.5%).

BMC Women's Health

A powerful voice of the Religious Right and Moral Majority, Schlafly presented feminism as an impediment to women's happiness.

Huffington Post

From money to morals, as Raiderettes attorney Sharon Vinick points out, the greatest impediment is the lack of unionization – something with which NFL players themselves struggled for long enough, something that finally made its way into the college game last week.

The Guardian - Opinion

To him, it seemed that tax avoidance and tax havens were a real impediment to allowing developing countries to function properly, and also a moral issue for companies in the developed world; for the Jersey-born Christensen, paying a fair amount of tax was the duty of any good citizen.

The Guardian - Business

Once it has been established that man indeed has free choice with regard to moral conduct and that evil does not come from God, there is no impediment for man to opt for the good life.

SEP

The view that humans typically already have a capacity to be moral is quite consistent with the view that it would be better if they faced fewer impediments to the exercise of this capacity (for example, temptations) and if they possessed the capacity to a higher degree.

Bioethics

According to one strand within classical compatibilism, freedom of the sort pertinent to moral evaluation is nothing more than an agent's ability to do what she wishes in the absence of impediments that would otherwise stand in her way.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "moral impediment", ensure the context clearly defines the moral framework being referenced. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "moral impediment" when a more specific ethical term applies. Using the phrase for any slight hesitation weakens its impact. Reserve it for significant ethical barriers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moral impediment" functions as a noun phrase, where "moral" acts as an adjective specifying the type of impediment. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and refers to an ethical barrier.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "moral impediment" correctly describes an ethical or principled obstacle. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, the expression is relatively rare. It appears in diverse contexts such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific literature. When employing this term, prioritize clarity and precision in defining the specific moral framework at play. Be sure that a clear impediment is present before using the phrase, avoiding its overuse in place of terms that express weaker ethical concerns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ethical obstacle

Focuses on ethics as the barrier, similar to morality.

moral obstacle

Direct synonym, replacing "impediment" with "obstacle".

ethical constraint

Highlights the limiting aspect of ethics.

principled objection

Emphasizes the objection based on principles.

ethical dilemma

Shifts the focus to a situation presenting a difficult ethical choice.

moral quandary

Implies a state of perplexity or uncertainty over moral issues.

conflict of conscience

Highlights the internal struggle against moral beliefs.

religious barrier

Specifies a religious basis for the impediment.

matter of principle

Emphasizes that the impediment arises from a strong adherence to a principle.

moral reservation

Suggests a feeling of doubt or unease regarding the morality of something.

FAQs

How can I use "moral impediment" in a sentence?

You can use "moral impediment" to describe a situation where someone's moral principles prevent them from taking a particular action. For example, "He saw the exploitation of workers as a "moral impediment" to supporting the company".

What are some alternatives to "moral impediment"?

Alternatives include "ethical obstacle", "moral obstacle", or "principled objection", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "moral impediment" the same as "legal impediment"?

No, a "moral impediment" relates to ethical or principled objections, while a "legal impediment" refers to a barrier imposed by laws or regulations. They address different types of constraints.

What kind of situations might create a "moral impediment"?

Situations involving conflicts of interest, dishonesty, exploitation, or violation of personal values can all create a "moral impediment", preventing someone from participating or supporting a particular course of action.