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
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 righteousness
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
It is believed that a person who dies on this holy day is viewed as a tzaddik, a person of exceptional righteousness.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
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
It is believed that a person who dies on this holy day is viewed as a tzaddik, a person of exceptional righteousness.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteousness
Noun
-
The death of Amini in the custody of the morality police became a symbol of systemic repression, particularly against women.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Cami trying to bring morality to the oil industry sure sounds nice, but she would be eaten alive.—
William Earl,
Variety,
4 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
-
In a sector where sustainability often stops at the label, this model carries the virtue of being both circular and selfless.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Just as personal vices can shape the course of an individual life, so too can national vices influence our collective experience, maybe as much as our virtues—or possibly even more.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Someone could surprise you with honesty, or a connection could flip overnight.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But Seehorn learned through Gould on Saul that honesty in any direction leads to the respect of an audience, not shameless pandering.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The sweet, nutty flavor of butternut squash melds with the cheesy goodness of this lasagna.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This super-stuffed bonanza of spell-casting goodness will feature previews, interviews, Easter eggs, and original musical performances by some of the starriest members of the duology's ensemble cast — including cohosts Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The performance earned Millan his first NFL Offensive Player of the Week honor.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Scott Dolch, president and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, which bestowed the recent honor through their Crazies award, said Riverhouse Catering is one of the best not only in Connecticut, but the region.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
By war’s end he was not only convinced of the moral rightness of Black suffrage and civil rights, but of their essential necessity and urgency.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Righteousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteousness. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share