as in distinctions
a quality that gives something special worth
the virtue of wool as a clothing material is that it can provide insulation from the cold even when wet
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Recent Examples of virtues
Mostly, Stanton’s sense of her own virtues made her bristle at all the great and petty indignities that characterized her place as a woman.
—
Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has earned praise from every opposing coach across the league in his first two NHL seasons, and Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff also took a minute Tuesday to extoll the 19-year-old’s virtues.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The situation calls for simplicity, somebody who can distill the game down to its most basic parts and sell this squad on the virtues of enjoying their football again, within a framework that’s quick to install in the Premier League.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Executives have been preaching the virtues of consolidation, framing it as the only way for legacy media companies to compete with technology companies.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Punishing people for their virtues is the essence of injustice.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
There is nuance in weighing the virtues of an ends-justify-the-means approach.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
This manner of politics, where flaws count more than virtues, has come to dominate.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
These aren’t abstract virtues floating above ordinary life.
—Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has earned praise from every opposing coach across the league in his first two NHL seasons, and Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff also took a minute Tuesday to extoll the 19-year-old’s virtues.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The situation calls for simplicity, somebody who can distill the game down to its most basic parts and sell this squad on the virtues of enjoying their football again, within a framework that’s quick to install in the Premier League.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Executives have been preaching the virtues of consolidation, framing it as the only way for legacy media companies to compete with technology companies.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Punishing people for their virtues is the essence of injustice.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
There is nuance in weighing the virtues of an ends-justify-the-means approach.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
This manner of politics, where flaws count more than virtues, has come to dominate.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
These aren’t abstract virtues floating above ordinary life.
—Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virtues
Noun
-
The backstory Fufu Tokyo Ginza is the first urban property from Fufu Japan, a brand known for intimate onsen retreats in quieter corners of the country, seven of which hold Michelin Key distinctions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Specifically, the study found the PATM patients emitted more petrochemicals, organosulfur compounds, and some aldehydes (including 39 times the normal amount of toluene, a chemical found in crude oil), among other distinctions—findings published in the scholarly journal Scientific Reports in 2023.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, many families will need to analyze whether to invest alone or with partners – a decision that carries its own set of advantages and trade‑offs.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The research team also pointed out that flexibility and safety are not the only advantages of the innovative electrolyte.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Despite harsh criticism by Republicans and homeschooling families, Democrats defended each of the bills on the merits.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Attempt to see the merits, the intent, the thinking.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And now, a new Times analysis of the highest home values in California shows Newport Beach perched at the top.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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People have preferences, values and commitments regarding real-world outcomes, but AI systems intrinsically do not.—
Jon R. Lindsay,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Developed and processed by its in-house team at its facilities in Roccapietra and Quarona, Italy, Loro Piana is ranking Royal Lightness among its consolidated excellences, such as The Gift of Kings.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Virtues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virtues. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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