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
  • The McLuhanite in me wants to stick to the first interpretation, in which the apparent shift in shame is a matter of morality getting funnelled through a new medium.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • The Los Angeles Community College District abruptly canceled bidding for a major student housing project after a losing bidder challenged the integrity of the process.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The court is confident in the soundness of the proceedings and the integrity of the judges.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of integrity
Noun
  • When late summer rolls around, Taylor Fritz joins a chorus of Americans in extoling the virtues of hard courts and talking about how the North American swing is his favorite time of year.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Though eventually abandoned due to cost, this system of surveillance endeavored to equate producers with virtue.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • Marcus King has the keen ability to balance technical brilliance with authenticity, gratitude and honesty.
    — John D. Luerssen, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026
  • To be able to change people's lives through your honesty and your true self is very surreal.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Rather, each person was placed here to influence the world for good and make it into a place where goodness, kindness and godliness are abundant.
    — Meir Moscowitz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The market isn't ignoring all this goodness at the moment, given Dell's rally is still respectable.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • The Nolan Ryan Fan Club might disagree, but even Ryan isn’t staking a claim to that honor.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Golden Eye Award honors actors and actresses who shape the current cinematic year while also ranking among the most significant performers of their generation.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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