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Synonyms

goodness

American  
[good-nis] / ˈgʊd nɪs /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being good.

    Antonyms:
    evil

  2. moral excellence; virtue.

    Synonyms:
    probity, honesty, integrity

  3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.

    Synonyms:
    humanity, benignity, benevolence

  4. excellence of quality.

    goodness of workmanship.
    Synonyms:
    merit, value, worth

  5. the best part of anything; essential property; strength.

  6. a euphemism for God.

    Thank goodness!

interjection

  1. Also goodness gracious (used in expressions of surprise, alarm, etc.).

    Goodness, you gave me a start!

    Goodness gracious, this article is so badly written!
goodness British  
/ ˈɡʊdnɪs /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being good

  2. generosity; kindness

  3. moral excellence; piety; virtue

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. a euphemism for God

    goodness knows!

    thank goodness!
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
goodness Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing goodness

    • for the sake of
    • god (goodness) knows
    • honest to god (goodness)
    • my god (goodness

Related Words

Goodness, morality, virtue refer to qualities of character or conduct that entitle the possessor to approval and esteem. Goodness is the simple word for the general quality recognized in character or conduct: Many could tell of her goodness and kindness. Morality implies conformity to the recognized standards of right conduct: a citizen of the highest morality. Virtue is a rather formal word, and suggests usually goodness that is consciously or steadily maintained, often in spite of temptations or evil influences: of unassailable virtue; firm and of unwavering virtue.

Other Word Forms

  • supergoodness noun

Etymology

Origin of goodness

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gōdnes; good, -ness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Still not clear…Dorgu! Goal! Oh my goodness me. Denmark are level again!"

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

The fatty tissue never became reinfected, thank goodness, though it also didn’t heal back into a straight line.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2026

“We are here and we believe, and we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, and it’s never too late.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

“Shrinking” exists in a bubble entirely divorced from current events, thank goodness, although the production itself is a tribute to persistence.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

“There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.”

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.