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
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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
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Recent Examples of righteousness
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
Plemons juggles passionate righteousness and relatable vulnerability.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
All brittleness and bile in the hands of Diego Luna, Valentín’s quiet righteousness rubs up against his cellmate’s grandiosity in all the wrong ways — at first.
—Blythe Marks, Them., 17 Oct. 2025
Another, a young miner, advocates in biblical terms for the union’s righteousness and helps to lead a strike.
—The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Plemons juggles passionate righteousness and relatable vulnerability.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
All brittleness and bile in the hands of Diego Luna, Valentín’s quiet righteousness rubs up against his cellmate’s grandiosity in all the wrong ways — at first.
—Blythe Marks, Them., 17 Oct. 2025
Another, a young miner, advocates in biblical terms for the union’s righteousness and helps to lead a strike.
—The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteousness
Noun
-
In 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was killed in custody after being arrested by the morality police for improperly wearing her hijab.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
-
During the 2022-23 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, sparked by the death of the young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, Pahlavi called for rallies against the Iranian government in the United States, Canada and other countries.—
Eric Lob,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Our students, families, and taxpayers deserve leaders who put the best interests of the community first, not individuals who appear focused on protecting one another instead of protecting the integrity of our school system.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Maybe Albro would raise concerns that the police weren’t doing enough to protect young women’s virtues, or Matthews would criticize the lack of a similar dragnet to find the killer of Mary Tate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The author’s work makes an excellent case that literature can explore virtue—even if his latest novel reveals its pitfalls.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This communicates self-awareness, honesty, and long-term reliability.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This is the year relationships and commitments stop being theoretical and start demanding structure and honesty.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Head over to the retailer’s denim section and see the goodness for yourself.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
-
All of that green goodness bottoms out at a six-pack high speed lift with heated seats and a bubble enclosure to cut through the wind.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An honor council, comprised of administrators, teachers, and members of the student government, would sit in judgment on cases of alleged cheating.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Although the name and separate unit were more likely signs of antisemitism than respect, the group wore the distinction as a badge of honor, Grymes said.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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