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amoral   —   immoral

Although they are often wrongly used interchangeably, these words are not synonymous.

“Amoral” means ‘not having the understanding or not able to understand what is right or what is wrong; not involving morally’.  It is not the word opposite in meaning to ‘moral’,

e.g.

Though she is nineteen, she is as amoral as a child.

Children and animals are amoral.

“Immoral” means ‘wicked, corrupt; not following the accepted moral principles; going against accepted code of sexual behaviour’.  It is the word opposite in meaning to ‘moral’,

e.g.

Tom was dismissed from his job for his immoral conduct.

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