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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • The biggest threat to your car was once a coat hanger combined with a questionable sense of morality.
    — Mike McRae October 20, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The ripeness of the material was, for him, in its depiction of morality.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • The Justice Department aims to send poll monitors to all 50 states in the 2026 midterms, marking an ambitious expansion of a longstanding federal initiative aimed at ensuring election integrity.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But when the firmware itself is compromised, the source and integrity of the update become especially important.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of integrity
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
  • Listen to their thoughts, then speak with hope, honesty and kindness.
    — Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The genre will continue to preserve the emotional honesty of its lyrics, which have traditionally focused on love.
    — Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Sign up here to get all the goodness delivered straight to your inbox.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Thank goodness the Authors Guild is taking action to fight back against AI, but the Big Five publishers are doing less so.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • The couple next returned to Princeton, and other honors soon followed for the poet.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • And the two players in the Heat’s starting unit who haven’t yet earned that honor — Mitchell and Wiggins — are both considered quality perimeter defenders.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of honor

Browse Nearby Words

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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