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
  • Hailing from Badalona, Spain, with extensive international coaching experience, Fernandez is well-equipped to identify and develop global talent, giving the franchise a significant scouting advantage in that regard.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • But there are advantages to working for a streamer.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Cardinals first baseman Wilson Contreras struck out four times Saturday in St. Louis’ 6-5 win over the Reds and earned a special distinction.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 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 name of liberal virtue signaling and pandering to his progressive base, Senator Wiener has introduced a bill that endangers the very men and women who've committed their lives to keeping us safe.
    Billal Rahman Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
  • Seattle Sounders One of three MLS clubs in this tournament, the Sounders are here by virtue of their 2022 Concacaf Champions League triumph.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • The mission was one of five awarded in 2023 to ULA under the NSSF Phase 2 task orders worth $566 million, but the individual value was not released by the DOD.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
  • With support from data scientist Peter Cotton, Score is developing a model that assigns a numerical value to each player’s contribution in real time.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 18 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 1 Jul. 2025.

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