RIGHTFULLY Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

rightful

adjective

ˈrīt-fəl

as in deserved

being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong in light of her admission of having lied, the only rightful course of action for the governor would be to resign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rightful Committee members were unconvinced, questioning why the congresswoman waited until the day of the hearing to produce such a document when Ethics Committee staff said proof of her rightful ownership of the funds was explicitly requested months ago. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026 An Aledo spokesperson previously shared a statement with the Star-Telegram that said the city filed the lawsuit to protect its rightful boundaries. —

Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026 Arkansas is the rightful favorite on a massive scale. —

Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026 According to this view, because people are literally the sole rightful owners of themselves, no one has property rights in anyone else (no person can own another person), and no one owes anything to anyone else. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rightful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightful

Adjective

Two goals in Atletico Madrid’s 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Tottenham had earned him a deserved player of the match trophy.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The park by then had a deserved reputation as an open-air drug market.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026