rectitude

noun

ˈrek-tə-ˌtüd How to pronounce rectitude (audio)
Definition of rectitudenext
1
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong encouraged the graduates to go on to live lives of unimpeachable rectitude and integrity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in integrity
faithfulness to high moral standards has a finely honed sense of rectitude that keeps him from cheating on exams

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rectitude And not unlike that earlier film, this one takes its tale of debauchery and rectitude and reconciles everything with a fiery third act. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025 The subtler truth is that a similar kind of minimalist rectitude is what has governed the best of the older monuments in the nation’s capital. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025 Indeed, comprehensive independent police auditing would help ensure, not harm, the rectitude of police investigations. — Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025 Mao’s brand of Communism combined a peasant ethos of physical labor with a Soviet pathos for ideological rectitude. — John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2013 See All Example Sentences for rectitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rectitude
  1. morality
  2. integrity
  3. virtue
  4. honesty
  5. goodness
  6. honor
Noun
  • Yes, these stories have monsters in them, heroic adventures, and black-and-white morality tales.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • But there’s a difference between narrating crime scenes at a remove and wrestling with the lingering morality of it all.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • The district attorney’s office’s community integrity unit discovered the Brady rule violation, according to a news release from the office.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The optimizer explanation argues for better objective specification and evaluation integrity.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of integrity
Noun
  • Deliberation remains one of higher education's greatest virtues.
    — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But if this move was taken in good faith — lower your eyebrows, please — then what was the virtue in keeping it secret?
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • Making good on his promise in The Holdovers, Dominic Sessa is excellent in the role, nailing the contradictory aspects of a slippery character while mapping his coming-of-age arc with empathy and honesty.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
  • An honesty first, the kind the easy version of this argument would skip.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • And, more importantly, the first honest-to-goodness college football game of the season arrives in just 45 days.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • Banana Bread Cereal Treats bind the two desserts with buttery, marshmallow goodness.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • The Fort Worth City Council approved a $125 million incentive package for the project in June 2025, followed by an October 2025 vote to rename the street in front of the development in its honor.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • So Brewer put his head down and against all odds, fashioned himself into one of the best centers in the league, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2025.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of honor

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rectifying
rectitude
rectitudinous
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Cite this Entry

“Rectitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rectitude. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rectitude for Spanish Speakers

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