righteous

adjective

ˈrī-chəs How to pronounce righteous (audio)
Definition of righteousnext
1
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honest
following the accepted rules of moral conduct righteous behavior is its own reward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excellent
slang of the very best kind a nightspot that's a dependable venue for righteous jazz

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective righteous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of righteous are ethical, moral, noble, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

Where would ethical be a reasonable alternative to righteous?

The meanings of ethical and righteous largely overlap; however, ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When would moral be a good substitute for righteous?

Although the words moral and righteous have much in common, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When might noble be a better fit than righteous?

While the synonyms noble and righteous are close in meaning, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When could virtuous be used to replace righteous?

While in some cases nearly identical to righteous, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

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 righteous In our post-religious era—in which, beneath the cloak of secular humanitarianism, righteous religiosity and virtuous crusading remain as potent as ever—history has attained the authority, authenticity and prestige that religion and its prelates once possessed. — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Pegged to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary (and released on Juneteenth), Outlaws’ Almanac, helmed and executive produced by No, is a righteous and declarative gathering of contemporary and repurposed folk-roots freedom songs. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2026 Despite their righteous cause, though, much of these campaigns turn out ineffective, largely due to many universities’ reliance on government funding (and overcompliance to get it), a fact aggressively exploited by the state and federal government. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 The portrait of America as an imperial power cuts against its self-image as a righteous cradle of democracy. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteous
  1. honorable
  2. honest
  3. excellent
  4. ethical
  5. noble
  6. wonderful
  7. true
  8. great
Adjective
  • Someone who lost their way despite their initial, honorable intentions.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Manliness is a touchy subject these days, but there was a time when honorable combat was respected above the mere running of one’s mouth.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • There still can be that intellectually honest middle position.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026
  • If a profile, photo, or introduction needs updating, choose one that feels alive and honest.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • Rocket is known for its excellent customer service and easy-to-use website and mobile app.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 13 July 2026
  • Bagworm is excellent and I am thrilled Oscilloscope will be bringing this cinematic fever dream to a theater near you.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 July 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • Performance-enhancing uses also raise ethical considerations.
    — Elaine Yu, CNBC, 11 July 2026
  • While guidelines provide oversight on the vetting, selection and usage of AI tools, governance provides the structural oversight that keeps AI aligned with business objectives, ethical standards and regulatory requirements.
    — Scott Francis, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • As a witty nod to the noble milieu and the Sciò family’s former residency, a family tree of portraits by Gucci collaborator Ignasi Monreal, hangs in the piano room outside of the restaurant.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 July 2026
  • Warm, fuzzy feelings for noble stupidity are an American thing, especially in politics.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of noble
Adjective
  • There was something wonderful about the energy of the space—sprinkled with students diligently studying for final exams.
    — Dana Kravis, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • The airline’s business class is well worth the splurge, thanks to the delicious food and beverage offerings, comfortable seats, innovative programs, and wonderful service on board.
    — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • This underscores how Apple's control over its devices, from hardware to software, limits true ownership and poses challenges for long-term digital preservation.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • If religion is corrupted by breaking down the wall of separation, much the same is true of the state.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Naturally, minds will go back to 1986, when Argentina beat England 2-1 and Diego Maradona scored arguably the greatest World Cup goal of all-time.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • And the greatest Golden Boot chase in World Cup history as greats Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Haaland and Kane rose like giants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
Definition of great

Browse Nearby Words

righted
righteous
righteously
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Cite this Entry

“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteous. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of righteous for Spanish Speakers

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