the ends justify the means

A form of the end justifies the means — Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can be considered morally right or wrong only by virtue of the morality of the outcome.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of the end justifies the means.
Cite this entry
APA

the ends justify the means. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ends%20justify%20the%20means

MLA

“the ends justify the means.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ends%20justify%20the%20means. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the ends justify the means,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ends%20justify%20the%20means.

Source: the ends justify the means on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.