cardinal virtue

noun

Definition of cardinal virtuenext
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 Tolerance became the cardinal virtue of modern liberalism, but tolerance cannot sustain a civilization. — Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 Courage, self-discipline, and AI The other two cardinal virtues (there are four in all) are courage and self-discipline. — Andrew Abela, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtue
  1. advantage
  2. distinction
  3. virtue
  4. value
  5. merit
Noun
  • Ohio polling raises questions Advertisement As polling consistently shows an advantage for Acton, Republicans are increasingly arguing that the polls may be wrong by just enough to give Ramaswamy the win.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • That distinction shows both the opportunity for American technology and the limits imposed by remaining dependencies.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The city institution, which artistic director Robert Drake describes as Georgia's longest-running theater, also holds the distinction of being the first professional theater to integrate both its casts and audience in the southeastern United States.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction
Noun
  • The virtue-signaling from the insufferable COVID summer of 2020 turned a lot of people off, rightfully so.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The nod to purity emphasized the paint brand’s relationship to cleanliness and virtue, and possibly other notions of bigotry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • The federal government was preparing to change its rules on low-value imports, threatening her ability to purchase cheaper prescription medications for blood thinning and heart failure from Canada.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That’s 35% of the value of the S&P 500 and the highest concentration in a handful of stocks since just before the crash of 1929.
    — Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of value
Noun
  • Even if the business can prove that the claims being made against it are without merit, legal defense fees can still become costly.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • After an extensive review, which included training on state law, reading the book and discussing its merits, the committee decided unanimously to keep the book in Harford County high schools.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of merit

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cardinal virtue
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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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