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
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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
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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.
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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
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The death of Amini in the custody of the morality police became a symbol of systemic repression, particularly against women.—
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Cami trying to bring morality to the oil industry sure sounds nice, but she would be eaten alive.—
Noun
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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.—
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Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
Noun
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Carrying Mandarin-style wooden ducks (won-ang seteu) down the aisle symbolizes the groom's commitment to his partner and represents virtues like fidelity, harmony, and family in Korean culture.—
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The virtue of me organizing words and putting them in order and being able to evoke different types of emotions in different types of personalities, that’s a great talent.—
Noun
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Once Venus, Mercury and the sun finally move into Aquarius, the trajectory of our love lives will shift gears entirely, as this Air sign encourages honesty, friendship and independence.—
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Our guide gives you the best strategies to handle lying and deception at every stage and smart ways to teach your child the value of honesty.—
Noun
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My goodness, Tennessee Williams.—
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Another category to consider adding to your wellness pantry is tonics, highly concentrated shots of goodness stocked with superfoods.—
Noun
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The performance earned Millan his first NFL Offensive Player of the Week honor.—
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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.—
Noun
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For the most part, though, his attention to detail and his feeling for structure yielded readings of inherent, inarguable rightness.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Righteousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/righteousness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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