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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective righteous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of righteous are ethical, moral, noble, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

Where would ethical be a reasonable alternative to righteous?

The meanings of ethical and righteous largely overlap; however, ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When would moral be a good substitute for righteous?

Although the words moral and righteous have much in common, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When might noble be a better fit than righteous?

While the synonyms noble and righteous are close in meaning, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

When could virtuous be used to replace righteous?

While in some cases nearly identical to righteous, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

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 righteous In fact, Gideon has looked notably uncomfortable on the righteous path, having inherited none of his father’s preaching skills, much less his boorish bluster. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 Sometimes anger is righteous, justified and productive. Shannon Carpenter, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025 As the film progresses, this wide-eyed curiosity shifts to righteous indignation, but these reactions are muddled by her feelings for Basem. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025 The book extends a rickety rope bridge between psychological shame—the I-must-bury-my-face kind that follows when one is caught being stupid, horny, or poor—and patriotic shame, which fells those in power with its righteous anger. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for righteous
Adjective
  • After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Quang enjoyed a successful pharmaceutical sales stint as a top producer for Astra/Merck and then Genentech.
    Quang X. Pham, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Instead, most of Bernadette’s assumptions — that working the border is an honorable act, or that a federal position will imbue her with more authority, or that all Native people will have the same opinions and the same goals — are upended over the course of the season.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But Gilroy is honest about the parts of Andor that have not been easy, too.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 16 May 2025
  • Log in Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
    Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, having read about the extensive fabric testing conducted by Article to ensure abrasion resistance (150% more testing than industry standard!), I was reassured that this would be an excellent investment piece for our home.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 12 May 2025
  • That means that barring a massive night by Brunson -- who is dealing with two excellent perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White -- the Celtics should be able to not only win, but cover, for the second game in a row.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some question whether the interest in crime content is ethical, but Golub said there are a lot of different reasons people are interested.
    Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
  • However, that price reflects the cost of ethical production.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Voices Despite noble intentions, California’s environmental law is hurting Latinos July 19, 2024 Rent in California is 50% higher than the national median, according to U.S. Census data.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
  • Our characters deeply love each other, and the conflict between them is about noble issues, not petty drama.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its deep, shiny green foliage is a wonderful complement to the perfectly peachy hue of each rose.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
  • Colombia’s coastal cities are famous for their cuisine, but don’t overlook their wonderful street foods.
    Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Brands can now measure interactions that happen across different channels and touchpoints, such as call center conversions or in-store actions—creating a true omnichannel view.
    Heidi Bullock, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The Johnny King Buck In 2006, Wisconsin deer hunter Johnny King shot what some folks believe is the true world-record typical whitetail.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • White Smoke Billows from Vatican Chimney White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter's Basilica rang out on Thursday, signaling that a new pope—the 267th leader of the Catholic Church—had been chosen on the second day of the conclave.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • There is seemingly a show for each subgenre for fans of all those great 2000s series.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteous. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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