goodness

noun

good·​ness ˈgu̇d-nəs How to pronounce goodness (audio)
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

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 What brings Pinochet’s fallen world and this movie to life is not the possibility of goodness or redemption but rather the exact opposite. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 Millionaires' Shortbread Three layers of rich goodness—buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, and a thick layer of dark chocolate—make up this well-heeled dessert. Christopher Michel, Country Living, 5 Sep. 2023 This lightweight nighttime moisturizer absorbs in seconds, as if your skin is quite literally drinking up all that hydrating goodness (from the ceramides and hyaluronic acid blend). Lindsay Colameo, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023 Shred your pork and serve it on buns with slaw, or even use it as a taco filling. 41 Slow-Cooker Green Minestrone In this recipe for Slow-Cooker Green Minestrone Soup, all the green garden goodness that spring has to offer finds its way into one warming bowl. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2023 Thank goodness, Moving Feedback is here to the rescue. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023 Put the cameras away and do something out of the goodness of your heart. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023 For Sheila Heti, this resistance to goodness takes the form of artistic introspection, which busier people tend to judge as selfish and idle. Adam Kirsch, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023 For Charles Burnett, the writer-director of this exchange from his 1990 film To Sleep with Anger, the moment is one of reciprocal innocence, goodness recognizing goodness. Hazlitt, 9 Aug. 2023 See More

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.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of goodness was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near goodness

Cite this Entry

“Goodness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goodness. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

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