righteous

adjective

ˈrī-chəs How to pronounce righteous (audio)
Definition of righteousnext
1
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honest
following the accepted rules of moral conduct righteous behavior is its own reward

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excellent
slang of the very best kind a nightspot that's a dependable venue for righteous jazz

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. —CBS News, 22 June 2025 Cruise dons Kovic’s uniform with unflinching vulnerability, while Stone, himself a Vietnam veteran, directs with righteous anger and empathy. —Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 This strong, authentic understanding amidst the ambiguity of whether righteous living leads to health and wealth is prominent throughout the Bible. —Walt Shelton, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 And he is compelled by a righteous fury to warn others of his son’s dark path to self-annihilation. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteous
  1. honorable
  2. honest
  3. excellent
  4. ethical
  5. noble
  6. wonderful
  7. true
  8. great
Adjective
  • Our leadership spends its time implying anyone with origins south of our border is less than honorable and must be deported regardless of their contributions, just to feel powerful.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
  • Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, has taken the harder and more honorable route.
    — John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • Be honest about systems that are no longer serving their purpose.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Renegade Paws Rescue's honest assessment of Igor's personality garnered the attention of thousands of animal lovers, who shared the post over 35,000 times.
    — Moná Thomas, People.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • Aloe vera is low-maintenance, making the houseplant an excellent option for beginner houseplant owners, who don’t have much time for excessive plant care.
    — Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
  • One of the best examples is her novel Made for Love, perhaps better known as an HBO show starring the excellent Cristin Milioti.
    — The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • In fact, few groups in society are as universally disliked as ethical vegans, vegetarians and advocates for animal rights.
    — GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Similarly, the ethical OM Project line from 1997 and 1998 was forward-looking.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 July 2025
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • But this week, Trump — always looking for a shiny object — is forcing his minions in Congress to muscle through a bill that ends the modest subsidy for the CPB (along with billions in foreign aid and other noble causes).
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 July 2025
  • True leadership courage lies in rallying teams around a noble cause and recognizing when identity has become a barrier to necessary evolution.
    — Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Definition of noble
Adjective
  • Brad Schmitt Hey there, new neighbors, and welcome back to our intro to Nashville and all the wonderful things the city has to offer you.
    — Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
  • Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • This was certainly true of the Mets last summer when Taylor played his way into the lineup more consistently than Harrison Bader.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025
  • This rings especially true for me, a vegetarian for nearly two decades.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Dropping that grenade on the audience with so little time left to feel the impact does Jill little justice, but DeWitt does, in fairness, invest great pathos in her.
    — Andy Crump, Time, 20 July 2025
  • This is a great UFC fight card that will not disappoint; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
    — Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
Definition of great

Browse Nearby Words

righted
righteous
righteously
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Cite this Entry

“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteous. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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