goodness
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being good.
- Antonyms:
- evil
-
moral excellence; virtue.
-
kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.
- Synonyms:
- humanity, benignity, benevolence
-
excellence of quality.
goodness of workmanship.
-
the best part of anything; essential property; strength.
-
a euphemism for God.
Thank goodness!
interjection
noun
-
the state or quality of being good
-
generosity; kindness
-
moral excellence; piety; virtue
interjection
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of goodness
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gōdnes; see 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.
Indeed, goodness seems like too active a word for this novel; the principal virtue, instead, is solicitude.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Thank goodness she was assigned this case; she worked in this very U.S. attorney’s office for years, so she understands what a fall from grace this is.
From Slate • May 22, 2026
It’s also about the yearning for a more optimistic era of musical storytelling, when goodness could be counted on to prevail and a happy ending might be delayed but only rarely denied.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
"When I brought him up to the surface I realised it was actually a big adult hog - and my goodness did he smell bad," explained Andy.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
Byrd says, “Thank goodness you got him there in time.”
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
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.
