as in deserved
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
in light of her admission of having lied, the only rightful course of action for the governor would be to resign
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Recent Examples of rightful
Erling Haaland was the rightful match-winner, dispatching his goal with a surety that eluded Havertz on more than one occasion.
—
James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Then, once the courtyard was newly refreshed and the fountain glistening, each turtle was returned to its rightful home.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The custom started, sensibly enough, in 18th- and 19th-century France, when linens were sent out in alarming, indistinguishable heaps and expected to return to their rightful homes.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
To build a bridge between the two groups to put the people back in their rightful place at the head of the republic.
—Aaron Everitt, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rightful
James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Then, once the courtyard was newly refreshed and the fountain glistening, each turtle was returned to its rightful home.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The custom started, sensibly enough, in 18th- and 19th-century France, when linens were sent out in alarming, indistinguishable heaps and expected to return to their rightful homes.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
To build a bridge between the two groups to put the people back in their rightful place at the head of the republic.
—Aaron Everitt, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rightful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightful
Adjective
-
Anything less will keep the door wide open for the Pohlad family to be a lightning rod for criticism that is very much deserved.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Two goals in Atletico Madrid’s 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Tottenham had earned him a deserved player of the match trophy.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The justified issue with this latest Cowboys-Arlington deal Ross did not return a call to the Star-Telegram.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
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But the federal monitor in place since that ruling has repeatedly said that even when officers conduct a legally justified stop, the subsequent frisk or more invasive search is too often not justified.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightful. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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