2
a
: morally right or justifiable
a righteous decision
b
: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality
righteous indignation
righteously
adverb
righteousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of righteous in a Sentence
The mix of Yorkshire-inherited bluntness and a caustic, chirpy South London cynicism (vividly parodied and perhaps too endearingly celebrated in the voice of Dora Chance, narrator of Wise Children) stops her from sounding righteous or dogmatic.
—
Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern.
—Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below.
—William Kennedy, Harper's, March 1988
The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind.
—Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances
righteous behavior is its own reward
Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern.
—Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below.
—William Kennedy, Harper's, March 1988
The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind.
—Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances
righteous behavior is its own reward
Recent Examples on the Web
Cliffhangers come every 10 minutes until the final big reveal, which offers a surprisingly reassuring vision of an election leading to a righteous and moral outcome.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
This is McQueen’s method: a passage of lyrical beauty, a chaser of righteous struggle.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Playing Captain Ernest Krause, who must lead an Allied convoy during the harrowing Battle of the Atlantic, Hanks digs into this World War II drama’s righteous earnestness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Kajol’s character of a dangerously righteous police officer is more about defining the grey areas of right and wrong, than focusing on the character’s multi-dimensional personality and arc.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for righteous 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
This is McQueen’s method: a passage of lyrical beauty, a chaser of righteous struggle.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Playing Captain Ernest Krause, who must lead an Allied convoy during the harrowing Battle of the Atlantic, Hanks digs into this World War II drama’s righteous earnestness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Kajol’s character of a dangerously righteous police officer is more about defining the grey areas of right and wrong, than focusing on the character’s multi-dimensional personality and arc.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for righteous
Articles Related to righteous
Dictionary Entries Near righteous
Cite this Entry
“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/righteous. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share