High-minded — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd/ high-mind·ed

Meaning & Definition of High-minded

High-minded (adjective)

  1. marked by elevated principles and feelings; also, pretentious

High-minded (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature

    "high-minded efforts to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate"

    similar: big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, natural, noble, sublime
    related: ennobled, exalted, glorified, heroic, honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy, knightly, princely, regal, inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting, august, magnificent, majestic
    opposite: base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low
    near: sordid, squalid, vile, wretched, abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious, dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry, little, mean, narrow, small-minded, degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious, coarse, crude, vulgar

  2. self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance

    "she was too high-minded to admit publicly to watching trashy movies, but privately she loved them"

    similar: affected, grandiose, highfalutin, la-di-da, ostentatious, pompous, pretentious, snippy
    related: airy, grandiloquent, high-flown, high-sounding, high-toned, sententious, arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic, egotistic, high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, imperious, important, overweening, presumptuous, prideful, proud, self-asserting, self-assertive, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-important, self-obsessed, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious, self-aggrandizing, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting, cavalier, disdainful, haughty, lordly, snobbish, snobby, stuck-up, supercilious, superior, confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, boastful, braggart, bragging, aggressive, assertive, audacious, bold, brassy, cheeky, cocky, forward, impudent, insolent, rude, flamboyant, flashy, flaunting, garish, gaudy, glitzy, showy, splashy
    opposite: modest, unpretentious
    near: demure, down-to-earth, homely, humble, lowly, meek, retiring, unassertive, unassuming, bashful, diffident, mousy, overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, shy, timid

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for High-minded

The most common words with a similar meaning to High-minded:

big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, natural, noble, sublime, affected, grandiose, highfalutin, la-di-da, ostentatious, pompous, pretentious, snippy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for High-minded

Words with the opposite meaning of High-minded:

base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low, modest, unpretentious

Related Words for High-minded

ennobled, exalted, glorified, heroic, honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy, knightly, princely, regal, inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting, august, magnificent, majestic, airy, grandiloquent, high-flown, high-sounding, high-toned, sententious, arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic, egotistic

Near Antonyms of High-minded

sordid, squalid, vile, wretched, abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious, dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry, little, mean, narrow, small-minded, degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious, coarse, crude, vulgar, demure, down-to-earth

Word Forms of High-minded

Derived words: high-mindedly (adverb), high-mindedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of High-minded

First known use: 1556

Frequently Asked Questions about High-minded

What does "High-minded" mean?

"High-minded" means marked by elevated principles and feelings; also, pretentious. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by elevated principles and feelings; also, pretentious. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "High-minded"?

Other words for "High-minded" include big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high and lofty. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "High-minded" you intend.

What are different ways to say "High-minded"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "High-minded". Common alternatives include big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, lofty, lordly and magnanimous.

What is the opposite of "High-minded"?

Antonyms of "High-minded" include base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low, modest and unpretentious. Near antonyms include sordid, squalid, vile and wretched.

How do you use "High-minded" in a sentence?

Examples of "High-minded" in a sentence: "high-minded efforts to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate"; "she was too high-minded to admit publicly to watching trashy movies, but privately she loved them".

Is "High-minded" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"High-minded" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "High-minded"?

"High-minded" is pronounced /ˈhī-ˈmīn-dəd/ and divided into syllables as high-mind·ed.

What is the origin of the word "High-minded"?

First known use: 1556.