1
: the quality or state of being good
2
—used interjectionally or in phrases especially to express mild surprise or shock
oh, my goodness!
goodness knows
3
: the nutritious, flavorful, or beneficial part of something
Synonyms
Examples of goodness in a Sentence
Even if you don't agree, at least have the goodness to be polite!
a person of such unaffected goodness that his friends were inspired to lead better lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Cubes of French bread soak up all the savory goodness of broth, white wine, garlic, and onions, then bake in an eggy Swiss cheese mixture.
—
Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
And thank goodness for poker face — 15 feet behind those incredible answers, trying not to show any emotion, trying not to communicate any panic or fear or consternation.
—Karen Zamora, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
And thank goodness, because season 3 has put the band back on the road for more ridiculous adventures.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Sky-high ticket prices, concessions costs that laugh in the face of logic (even the airport isn’t so bold), and the parking fees — my goodness.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Thank goodness for the February release of their first outing, Working Progress.
—Erin MacLeod, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2024
These jewels of natural goodness are vegan, organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, with no sugar alcohols, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Thank goodness future cast members won’t have to get used to it anymore.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Essential reading: How to cook a simple, flavorful pot of beans and use it throughout the week
A former omnivore comes out as vegetarian
1/3
End of carousel
Thank goodness for the accidents.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
And thank goodness for poker face — 15 feet behind those incredible answers, trying not to show any emotion, trying not to communicate any panic or fear or consternation.
—Karen Zamora, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
And thank goodness, because season 3 has put the band back on the road for more ridiculous adventures.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Sky-high ticket prices, concessions costs that laugh in the face of logic (even the airport isn’t so bold), and the parking fees — my goodness.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Thank goodness for the February release of their first outing, Working Progress.
—Erin MacLeod, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2024
These jewels of natural goodness are vegan, organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, with no sugar alcohols, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Thank goodness future cast members won’t have to get used to it anymore.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Essential reading: How to cook a simple, flavorful pot of beans and use it throughout the week
A former omnivore comes out as vegetarian
1/3
End of carousel
Thank goodness for the accidents.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goodness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near goodness
Cite this Entry
“Goodness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goodness. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share