virtuous

adjective

ˈvər-chə-wəs How to pronounce virtuous (audio)
Definition of virtuousnext
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue virtuous behavior is its own reward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective virtuous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of virtuous are ethical, moral, noble, and righteous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

In what contexts can ethical take the place of virtuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to virtuous, ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

When could moral be used to replace virtuous?

While the synonyms moral and virtuous are close in meaning, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

When can noble be used instead of virtuous?

In some situations, the words noble and virtuous are roughly equivalent. However, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Where would righteous be a reasonable alternative to virtuous?

Although the words righteous and virtuous have much in common, righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

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 virtuous In my opinion, looking into the healthcare space, business leaders should nurture a virtuous cycle where their innovative product drives sales and the sales team provides the insights needed to refine and expand the product’s capabilities. —Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 In a November call, Iger also highlighted the virtuous cycle of Disney. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025 By embracing this new approach, startups have been able to create a virtuous cycle of trust and growth around their company’s product and branding—effectively driving inbound sales through outbound interactions. —Danylo Borodchuk, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 What quickly followed was a virtuous cycle of surging output, investment, real credit growth, and confidence. —Guy Petcho, National Review, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for virtuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virtuous
  1. honorable
  2. ethical
  3. honest
  4. nice
  5. true
  6. good
  7. moral
Adjective
  • Of course, Greg/Gary is an honorable guy who would never bankrupt Belinda to teach her a lesson about greed and blackmail.
    — Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Some Union soldiers attended the event, and two Union officers delivered orations, each focusing on the topic of reconciliation between the honorable foes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • Data practices should also ensure compliance with privacy laws such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), while promoting ethical handling of sensitive information.
    — Ben Blanquera, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • So, if insects can feel pain, as most Americans believe, then there is an ethical reason to protect their welfare.
    — Bob Fischer, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • This accountability between sustainability initiatives and resilience among uncertainty is sparking more honest conversations, leading to more realistic goal setting and, ultimately, more meaningful progress.
    — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The album is raw, honest, and deeply personal—a sonic letter to women and their stories, both told and untold.
    — Nour Ezzedine, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • The physical edition even includes a full-color manual like the good old days, which is a nice touch.
    — David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • In this chicken noodle casserole, the pasta is perfectly cooked and creamy, with bits of chicken adding a nice bite and different texture.
    — Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • That may be true, but the IEA reports that sales actually continued to grow in the U.S. at greater than a 10% clip.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 28 Mar. 2025
  • That versatility is, in a lot of ways, the true beauty of unicorns.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of true
Adjective
  • After a week full of monstrous swings, the S&P 500 posted its best weekly performance since November 23, while the Nasdaq saw its best week since November 2022, according to the financial data firm FactSet.
    — Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Shorts are the only categories whose winners are ineligible for best picture, acting, screenplay or any other major Oscar, due to their length.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of good
Adjective
  • Timothy Ratliff learned to cling to family, but his family is awful, especially since Piper, who started the season as the moral Ratliff, learned she can’t be bothered to find enlightenment if enlightenment doesn’t have better organic catering.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Company executives often frame the technology not just as a moral good, but a moral imperative—a way for humans, who have driven so many species to the brink of extinction, to get square with nature.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of moral

Browse Nearby Words

virtuosos
virtuous
virtuously
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Cite this Entry

“Virtuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virtuous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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