righteous

adjective righ·teous \ ˈrī-chəs \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: righteous in a Sentence

Definition of righteous

1 : acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin

2 a : morally right or justifiable

a righteous decision

b : arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality

righteous indignation

3 slang : genuine, excellent

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righteously

adverb

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righteousness

noun

See righteous defined for English-language learners

See righteous defined for kids

Examples of righteous in a Sentence

The mix of Yorkshire-inherited bluntness and a caustic, chirpy South London cynicism (vividly parodied and perhaps too endearingly celebrated in the voice of Dora Chance, narrator of Wise Children) stops her from sounding righteous or dogmatic. —Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern. —Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below. —William Kennedy, Harper's, March 1988
The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind. —Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances
righteous behavior is its own reward

Recent Examples of righteous from the Web

Rob Reiner and Woody Harrelson — Woody Harrelson! — as righteous journalists?

— kerry lengel, azcentral, "Liberal outrage in Rob Reiner's 'Shock and Awe'," 12 July 2018
This righteous zeal came from an unwillingness to cut a break for anyone who had essential testimony, from a feeling that his allegiance had to be to the truth of history and to the millions who had died.

— kenneth turan, latimes.com, "Appreciation: Director Claude Lanzmann's 'Shoah' changed our understanding of the Holocaust — and altered documentary filmmaking," 6 July 2018
But Flynn’s also at her most righteous in Sharp Objects, fiddling with the all-American—cheerleading, day-drinking, hunting practice—to seek the rot within.

— sonia saraiya, HWD, "Sharp Objects Is Stunning, Raw, and Violently Beautiful," 5 July 2018
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, of Brazil, is the sort of human being that English and American soccer pundits, schooled in the cult of manly stoicism and prone to self-righteous sermons about fair play, were born to disdain.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "The Annoying Genius Who Makes the World Cup Worth Watching," 5 July 2018
Whether the historically self-righteous Facebook will prove as willing to re-examine Zuckerberg’s role is another matter entirely.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Could Mark Zuckerberg Face a Coup d'Etat at Facebook?," 26 June 2018
Their conversation is righteous, thought-provoking, and important.

— carolyn kylstra, SELF, "The Weight Issue: A Letter from the Editor," 25 June 2018
Admit it—you’d rather sign up for combat duty than step off of your self-righteous pedestal following a spat.

— susan fales-hill, Town & Country, "How to Say You're Sorry (And Sound Like You Mean It)," 3 Apr. 2017
So are self-righteous cheating politicians and quickie divorces.

— jeneé osterheldt, kansascity, "Putting a face on same-sex marriage," 29 June 2013

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'righteous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of righteous

alteration of earlier rightuous, alteration of Middle English rightwise, rightwos, from Old English rihtwīs, from riht, noun, right + wīs wise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

righteous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of righteous

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.