morally challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'morally challenging' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any situation where a person has to make a moral judgment or decision. For example, "The situation was morally challenging, as the decision could have lasting consequences on everyone involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Such is presumably the basis on which the novel's publisher bills it as "a morally challenging read".

The New York Times - Books

And for a good, meaty adventure story, Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines (Scholastic, £12.99) is a fantastic read - as thrilling as it is morally challenging.

The Guardian - Books

Greengrass, his cast and associates have consulted the families of the victims at all stages of making the picture, and they have produced a sober, unsensational film that is at once dramatically involving and morally challenging.

The Guardian - Film

Public health resources are always in short supply and priority setting in public health policy and practice is always morally challenging.

SEP

Regardless, adapting the internet into our society to fit and wrestle our morally challenging borders requires not just an overflow of cultural and contextual relevant opportunities but an inclusive internationalization of Internet governance inclusive of all nations, and not regulated on geographical, racial, sexual, or individual basis to assure a complete internet breakthrough in Africa.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

It has also been demonstrated that people deceive less when the potential monetary reward related to cheating is significantly high thus making the circumstance morally challenging; or when cues to their moral standards are provided [6].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

And the lower the cultural form, or the ticket price, or -- let's just say it -- the presumed education level of the typical viewer, the more depictions of violence are suspected of inducing mindless emulation in their audiences, who will soon re-enact the mayhem like morally challenged monkeys, unlike the viewers of, say, "Titus Andronicus," about whose moral intelligence society is confident.

The New York Times

But to others, he is a morally challenged provocateur.

The New York Times

To be sure, it can sometimes appear that Soderberg sees one sex as being more morally challenged than the other.

The New York Times - Books

After "Arrested Development" ended in 2006, Ms. Walter went on to play similarly morally challenged characters on series like "Archer" and "90210".

The New York Times

That saga of couples testing their relationships against the lure of sexy singles piled up ratings with young viewers, even as advertisers fled its morally challenged premise.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "morally challenging" to describe situations that force individuals or groups to confront their values and make difficult choices with ethical implications.

Common error

Avoid using "morally challenging" when a simpler adjective like "difficult" or "complex" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "morally challenging" functions primarily as a pre-modifying adjective describing a noun. It indicates that the noun (e.g., situation, decision, issue) presents a difficult moral quandary. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes a situation where a person has to make a moral judgment or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "morally challenging" is a commonly used phrase to describe situations that require difficult ethical decisions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, and while it's a useful descriptor, it's important to consider simpler alternatives when appropriate to avoid sounding pretentious. When writing, consider using alternatives like "ethically complex" or "conscience testing" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ethically complex

Focuses specifically on ethical considerations rather than a broader moral scope.

morally ambiguous

Suggests a lack of clear moral right or wrong, rather than a direct challenge to one's morals.

conscience testing

Implies a direct test of one's conscience and moral principles.

morally demanding

Emphasizes the high moral standards required.

principled dilemma

Highlights the conflict between different moral principles.

ethical quandary

Refers to a difficult or perplexing situation with ethical implications.

value-laden decision

Highlights that the decision is heavily influenced by personal values.

hard moral choice

Emphasizes the difficulty and weight of the moral decision.

complex moral issue

Highlights the intricacy of the moral problem at hand.

difficult ethical situation

A broader term that encompasses any difficult scenario with ethical implications.

FAQs

How can I use "morally challenging" in a sentence?

You can use "morally challenging" to describe situations that require difficult ethical decisions, such as, "The company faced a "morally challenging" dilemma when deciding whether to outsource production to a country with lower labor standards".

What's a good substitute for "morally challenging"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "ethically complex", "morally ambiguous", or "conscience testing".

Is it better to say "ethically challenging" or "morally challenging"?

While both terms are similar, "morally challenging" is generally broader, encompassing a wider range of values and principles. "Ethically challenging" typically relates more specifically to codified rules and professional standards.

What makes a situation "morally challenging"?

A situation is "morally challenging" when it presents conflicting values, unclear rights and wrongs, or potential negative consequences regardless of the decision made. It requires careful consideration of one's principles.