noblesse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They rode to work in Rolls-Royces and adhered to a Protestant ethic of noblesse oblige.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

When Pritzker finds himself explaining why he does what he does, he often falls back on the vague language of noblesse oblige—that “we” have a responsibility to “lift up” or “stand up” for “the vulnerable.”

From Slate • Sep. 18, 2025

Given the vast wealth gap between likely patrons and these portrait-subjects, the question creates an inescapable aura of noblesse oblige.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2023

Though Alger indeed extols the virtues of hard work, prayer, honesty and saving, his books also hinge upon chance encounters and the noblesse oblige of someone much higher on the class ladder.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2022

In history class, when young Elena had learned the term noblesse oblige, she’d understood it at once.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng