virtuous

adjective vir·tu·ous \ ˈvər-chə-wəs , ˈvərch-wəs \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: virtuous in a Sentence

Definition of virtuous

1 a : having or exhibiting virtue

b : morally excellent : righteous

a virtuous decision

2 : chaste

3 : potent, efficacious

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virtuously

adverb

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virtuousness

noun

See virtuous defined for English-language learners

See virtuous defined for kids

Examples of virtuous in a Sentence

In a kind of virtuous circle, the "second tier" schools got better as applications rose and they could become choosier in assembling a class—which in turn raised the quality of the whole experience on campus and made the school more attractive to both topflight professors and the next wave of applicants. —Nancy Gibbs et al., Time, 21 Aug. 2006
In its quest to create ice cream as voluptuous as butter and as virtuous as broccoli, the ice cream industry has probed the depths of the Arctic Ocean, studied the intimate structures of algae and foisted numerous failures on the American public. —Julia Moskin, New York Times, 26 July 2006
Children born into high-income households become part of a virtuous circle of success. Parents with university degrees tend to earn more, set higher educational goals for their children, and invest more time in the children's schooling than parents who have a high-school education or less. —Laura D'Andrea Tyson, BusinessWeek, 7 July 2003
We redefined virtue as health. And considering the probable state of our souls, this was not a bad move. By relocating the seat of virtue from the soul to the pecs, the abs and the coronary arteries, we may not have become the most virtuous people on earth, but we surely became the most desperate for grace. We spend $5 billion a year on our health-club memberships, $2 billion on vitamins, nearly $1 billion on home exercise equipment, and $6 billion on sneakers to wear out on our treadmills and StairMasters. —Barbara Ehrenreich, Utne Reader, May/June 1992
She felt that she had made a virtuous decision by donating the money to charity.
virtuous behavior is its own reward

Recent Examples of virtuous from the Web

Here's why being a virtuous music listener feels harder than ever.

— chris richards, chicagotribune.com, "The 5 hardest questions in pop music," 3 July 2018
My rumbling gut says it’s too much to ask of fans, who for all their frustrations right now at least can feel complete conviction that their organization has virtuous priorities.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "The Royals are considering trying to sign Luke Heimlich. Here's why they shouldn't," 25 June 2018
As his assistant Ventura (Juan Minujín) starts behaving more like a rival and his landlord’s virtuous daughters sneak men into their bedrooms, Zama’s mask of rectitude slips and with it his grasp on reality.

— ty burr, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Zama’ is Lucrecia Martel’s latest one-of-a-kind offering," 4 July 2018
On the one hand, the chicken nalu bowl ($8) is downright virtuous, a mix of rice and chicken in tahini-yogurt dressing, with onion, red bell pepper and carrot, plus fried chickpeas, a crunchy highlight.

— carol deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "International flavors, down at the corner bar, are an American experience," 3 July 2018
However virtuous his causes, they are generally defined around his own leadership over pre-existing movements.

— jeffrey sonnenfeld, Fortune, "Why CEOs Make Great Politicians," 14 June 2018
Lonsdale and Luckey argue that building cheaper, more efficient systems is a virtuous pursuit, saving taxpayer dollars.

— steven levy, WIRED, "Inside Palmer Luckey’s Bid to Build A Border Wall," 11 June 2018
The Monkees were history’s most famous made-for-TV band, a virtuous counter to ’60s counterculture.

— allison stewart, chicagotribune.com, "Hey, hey, it's the Monkees, coming to this town," 7 June 2018
There will be no final judgment in which the virtuous are given power and the wicked are damned.

— dylan matthews, Vox, "Stop making second American Civil War clickbait," 1 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of virtuous

see virtue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

virtuous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of virtuous

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.