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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective righteous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of righteous are ethical, moral, noble, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

Where would ethical be a reasonable alternative to righteous?

The meanings of ethical and righteous largely overlap; however, ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When would moral be a good substitute for righteous?

Although the words moral and righteous have much in common, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When might noble be a better fit than righteous?

While the synonyms noble and righteous are close in meaning, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When could virtuous be used to replace righteous?

While in some cases nearly identical to righteous, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of righteous Shame is giving way to ‘righteous anger’ The conversations show a shift in the layoff environment. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025 But despite being the more rational and righteous of the parents, Maddie has a bad case of overestimating the relevance of her vocational training to the calamity at hand. Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025 Advertisement In her loneliness and, paradoxically, in her peculiarity, Mickey embodies a recognizable archetype: the righteous female cop protagonist of a prestige crime drama. Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025 Too often, the movie suggests, it is defeated by its own righteous rigor. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteous
Adjective
  • Nelson provided a copy of his honorable discharge, which was issued in 2011 and related to a previous term of service.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025
  • For Dan Hurley, UConn men, a painful, but honorable end to their historic era Dom Amore: For Dan Hurley, UConn men, a painful, but honorable end to their historic era Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: Will coaching carousel finally snag Dan Hurley’s assistants?
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Viola Davis shared an honest admission about a past interaction with the late Chadwick Boseman.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The current lawsuits still need to play out in the courts, but the cases have brought attention to the need for TV brands to be honest about the capabilities of their QD TVs.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Two standout experiences near the water include Schooner’s in the Caribbean Village, open for breakfast and dinner (chef Chris’s swordfish steak was excellent) as well as Barefoot by the Sea in the Italian Village.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Piper Niven Currently, Piper Niven is doing an excellent job as part of WWE Women's United States Champion Chelsea Green's cabinet.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Data practices should also ensure compliance with privacy laws such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), while promoting ethical handling of sensitive information.
    Ben Blanquera, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • So, if insects can feel pain, as most Americans believe, then there is an ethical reason to protect their welfare.
    Bob Fischer, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Because our first priority will be to respect the heritage of a race that’s almost two centuries old, a competition that brings together amateurs in the noblest sense — students of Oxford and Cambridge — and a level of professionalism and excellence that is worthy of the Olympic Games.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The story centers on Krem of the Yellow Hills, who kills an alien girl’s father, prompting her and Supergirl, accompanied by the noble Knolle, to embark on a pursuit for justice.
    Robert Lang, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Embracing different cultures: There is plenty of wonderful Mexican culture depicted throughout the film, from cooking traditional dishes to the vibrant atmosphere.
    Alex Vance, Parents, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Cherish these moments and know that your efforts to preserve their voices are a wonderful tribute to your relationships.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Voters are not famous for their patience or, as Joe Biden could explain, their fondness for higher prices, something that’s true even if this is a one-off adjustment.
    The Editors, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025
  • When each channel is evaluated independently, the true value of awareness campaigns becomes invisible.
    Cody Greco, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Temu and Shein have taken steps to grow their operations in the U.S. as the de minimis loophole has come under greater scrutiny.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
  • This assignment begins with secondary and higher educational institutions taking greater strides to enrich offerings civics instruction.
    Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteous. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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