cardinal virtue

as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth the cardinal virtue of wool is that it retains its insulating properties even when wet

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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 cardinal virtue Aquinas also noted that each of these four cardinal virtues had several smaller virtues associated with them. Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024 Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts. Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020 Breaching tennis’ cardinal virtues of self-sufficiency and autonomy, the coach begins by telling this emotional woman to calm down. Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 11 Apr. 2018 Dialogue is one of their cardinal virtues, and most seemed determined to give Trump a hearing. Time, 25 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtue
Noun
  • The underlying numbers, however, show that Guatemala really maximized its opportunity after gaining a numerical advantage.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 30 June 2025
  • But as a two-term governor in a blue state, Pritzker has the luxury of not having to make a choice under the usual constraints of seeking a political advantage, said Robin Johnson, a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant.
    Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Stein elaborates, drawing a distinction between highly skilled white-collar migrants, people including Alexander Hamilton, Albert Einstein and Elon Musk, and those who would in his view take jobs away from American low-wage workers.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 23 June 2025
  • There’s a distinction to be made between collaboration and cooperation.
    Brendan O’Meara June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • In the modern workforce, consensus is treated as a virtue.
    John Spencer-Taylor, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • As nature literature proliferated, the nature fakers debate—over anthropomorphism in fiction and nature writing—considered how the natural world should be portrayed in literature: should writers impose human qualities and virtues onto animals?
    Jessica George, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The value of private manufacturing construction in the country remained near record levels but fell 0.6% month-over-month in April and 0.9% in March, according to the Census Bureau.
    Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 June 2025
  • Dosunmu would have to return a decent value, but could make sense as a piece in a package to move Vučević or to secure Kuminga.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • At the April 22 school board meeting, trustees discussed the value of an education on topics such as race, heritage and culture and debated the merits of teaching high schoolers about social activism.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • This decision only relates to the issuing of a temporary restraining order and does not evaluate the merits of the underlying case.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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