1
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong
the laws do not always dictate righteousness, for what is legal is not always moral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in integrity
faithfulness to high moral standards
a life lived with righteousness guarantees that you will always respect yourself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of righteousness
The Iraq War’s neoconservative architects suffered from a hubristic faith in American power and their own righteousness.
—
George Packer, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
If the owner of the store is the embodiment of the system, having mostly killed his emotions, then at the opposite end is Ogawa, who lives by morality and her own sense of righteousness.
—Blake Simons, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
This needs to change, both for practical reasons and the mental health of the millions for whom recycling is a matter of righteousness.
—Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
The Torah frames giving not only as a charitable act, but as righteousness.
—Meg Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Outlaw country to the core, the Illinois native espouses an uncompromising independence and social-justice righteousness missing from the Nashville mainstream — and feigned for appearance’s sake in related circles.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Your illusion of righteousness only fuels my authenticity.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Her politics grew out of puckish sass—a need to trouble the authority of her conservative parents—as much as out of an essential righteousness.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
George Packer, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
If the owner of the store is the embodiment of the system, having mostly killed his emotions, then at the opposite end is Ogawa, who lives by morality and her own sense of righteousness.
—Blake Simons, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
This needs to change, both for practical reasons and the mental health of the millions for whom recycling is a matter of righteousness.
—Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
The Torah frames giving not only as a charitable act, but as righteousness.
—Meg Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Outlaw country to the core, the Illinois native espouses an uncompromising independence and social-justice righteousness missing from the Nashville mainstream — and feigned for appearance’s sake in related circles.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Your illusion of righteousness only fuels my authenticity.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Her politics grew out of puckish sass—a need to trouble the authority of her conservative parents—as much as out of an essential righteousness.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteousness
Noun
-
Better Go Mad in the Wild, Sinéad O’Shea’s capitalism and morality doc All About the Money, and Werner Herzog’s nature film Ghost Elephants.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Agents do not seek truth or morality.—
Victoria Bousis,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The bill would require proof of citizenship and voter identification to register to vote, and comes as the president has underscored election integrity.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There is nuance in weighing the virtues of an ends-justify-the-means approach.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
-
By contrast, German football’s virtues are its proud regional traditions, its fan culture, and the vibrancy of its atmosphere, none of which are quite as simple to export.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eric Church built his career on raw honesty in his music.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
-
What emerges is not just a portrait of a crisis, but also of quiet hope found in connection, in honesty, and in the courage to keep calling.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The ham will speak for you, and your Easter meal memory will be packed with goodness.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Thank goodness for the re-enter rule used in spring training.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The futurist, cultural historian and Holocaust survivor who has degrees in sociology and law from UCLA said she was informed of the honor last year by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and recently was honored by the Austrian government with its Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The journalist and historian has written thousands of articles, columns, and editorials, and has earned multiple lifetime achievement honors, and has authored or edited 14 books on LGBTQ+ history.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The absolute rightness of being together.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
For the most part, though, his attention to detail and his feeling for structure yielded readings of inherent, inarguable rightness.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Righteousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteousness. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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