cardinal virtues

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtues
  1. virtues
  2. distinctions
  3. advantages
  4. values
  5. merits
Noun
  • Deliberation remains one of higher education's greatest virtues.
    — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But this place, for all its virtues, doesn’t have Vernon in it.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
Definition of virtues
Noun
  • These distinctions may matter depending on your needs and the complexity of your situation.
    — Adam Palasciano, USA Today, 28 July 2026
  • One of the most consequential distinctions in AI governance is the difference between prediction and judgment.
    — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of distinctions
Noun
  • Trust, financing, developer communities, standards, commercial partnerships, and diplomatic credibility have become competitive advantages in their own right.
    — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Following puberty, males develop physical advantages that are well-documented in medical and sports performance research.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantages
Noun
  • Their rules tend to reflect strong preferences for aesthetic uniformity, believed by some to be associated with higher home values.
    — Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The show is remembered for its positive portrayal of a Black family with strong morals and values.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of values
Noun
  • An attorney herself, Belle knew the merits of a prenup and wisely took care of business.
    — Margery A. Greenberg, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Finally, advocates sued, arguing that, under then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the department had deliberately and illegally stopped processing claims and wrongfully denied others without considering the merits of their cases.
    — Cory Turner, NPR, 31 July 2026
Definition of merits
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cardinal virtue
cardinal virtues
carding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cardinal virtues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtues. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All