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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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
Practical wisdom, justice, and AI The cardinal virtues of practical wisdom and justice are the habits for deciding, fairly, what needs to be done.
—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
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
Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Practical wisdom, justice, and AI The cardinal virtues of practical wisdom and justice are the habits for deciding, fairly, what needs to be done.
—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
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
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The Packers should have the advantage in the contest, as Arizona backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett is set to start in Week 7 with Kyler Murray sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a foot sprain.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Regardless, the Avs finished the second period with 30 shot attempts (after 29 in the first) and a two-goal advantage.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When counseling clients, financial advisors often draw a distinction between investing and speculation.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Find the distinction in your relationships as Venus enters Libra.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Listening of this kind is a demanding civic art and civic virtue.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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That came by virtue of a career day from running back Rico Dowdle — who is facing his old team Sunday — and a defense that looked simply like a different team in the second half.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Toys, even ones marketed as tools for the imagination, are never value neutral.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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But the Bernabeu hierarchy are well aware of the value of their club.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The same technology’s feasibility should also be assessed under different climate zones, and full life cycle assessments (cradle-to-grave) of GS are a necessity for a better understanding of the technology’s merits and limits, researchers noted.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
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While some critics have taken issue with this fundamental deviation from Shelley’s script, others believe there could be merit in this new, lighter-touch creature.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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