as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
the cardinal virtue of wool is that it retains its insulating properties even when wet
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Recent Examples of cardinal virtue
Tolerance became the cardinal virtue of modern liberalism, but tolerance cannot sustain a civilization.
—
Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Practical wisdom, justice, and AI The cardinal virtues of practical wisdom and justice are the habits for deciding, fairly, what needs to be done.
—Andrew Abela, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Aquinas also noted that each of these four cardinal virtues had several smaller virtues associated with them.
—Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts.
—Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020
Breaching tennis’ cardinal virtues of self-sufficiency and autonomy, the coach begins by telling this emotional woman to calm down.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 11 Apr. 2018
Dialogue is one of their cardinal virtues, and most seemed determined to give Trump a hearing.
—Time, 25 Jan. 2018
Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Practical wisdom, justice, and AI The cardinal virtues of practical wisdom and justice are the habits for deciding, fairly, what needs to be done.
—Andrew Abela, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Aquinas also noted that each of these four cardinal virtues had several smaller virtues associated with them.
—Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts.
—Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020
Breaching tennis’ cardinal virtues of self-sufficiency and autonomy, the coach begins by telling this emotional woman to calm down.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 11 Apr. 2018
Dialogue is one of their cardinal virtues, and most seemed determined to give Trump a hearing.
—Time, 25 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtue
Noun
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Minutes earlier, Kelsy took advantage of an uncharacteristically lax exchange, blindsiding Jeppe Tverskov to take possession and create an instant breakaway opportunity.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Okongwu took advantage of it and drove to the basket for a quick shot.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The distinction between users and professionals is sometimes clear and other times not so obvious.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In that competition, loyalty is an expensive virtue.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But patience can sometimes be a death knell in the playoffs, and Game 4 showed how a lack of it can be a virtue.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though the value can be criticized, Love is immediately going to make Arizona’s offense exponentially better.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Under state law, the department should have gathered data on at least three comparable properties and their corresponding values, the report reads.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Tuesday order is not on the merits of the case challenging the vote, which the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the day before.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The economics merit attention too.—
Bob Diamond,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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