righteous
Americanadjective
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characterized by uprightness or morality.
a righteous observance of the law.
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morally right or justifiable.
righteous indignation.
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acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous.
a righteous and godly person.
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Slang. absolutely genuine or wonderful.
some righteous playing by a jazz great.
noun
adjective
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characterized by, proceeding from, or in accordance with accepted standards of morality, justice, or uprightness; virtuous
a righteous man
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( as collective noun ; preceded by the )
the righteous
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morally justifiable or right, esp from one's own point of view
righteous indignation
Usage
What does righteous mean? Righteous is an adjective that means virtuous, honorable, or morally right.Being righteous means doing what is right—obeying the law or adhering to morals. It is often used in a religious context.Example: It’s not easy to engage in righteous behavior—in fact, if an action is difficult to take, it’s probably right!
Other Word Forms
- overrighteous adjective
- overrighteously adverb
- overrighteousness noun
- prerighteous adjective
- prerighteously adverb
- prerighteousness noun
- quasi-righteous adjective
- quasi-righteously adverb
- righteously adverb
- righteousness noun
- superrighteous adjective
- superrighteously adverb
- superrighteousness noun
Etymology
Origin of righteous
First recorded before 900; earlier rightwos, rightwis (remodeled with -ous ), Middle English; Old English rihtwīs; right, wise 2
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.
You are not being noble or righteous by slowing other people down, you’re creating danger.
From Los Angeles Times
The percentage who would choose the righteous path is likely slim, equal to the number who would find $100 on the street and turn it in to the police.
“The second your teammates think you’re trying to duck something, it allows other people to duck and they feel righteous about it,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times
May Catholics remind their fellow Americans anew of how powerful and righteous standing up for the stranger is.
From Los Angeles Times
In the righteous spirit of a man bearing an inconvenient truth, Greg Lippmann, a copy of “Shorting Subprime Mezzanine Tranches” tucked under his arm, launched himself at the institutional investing public.
From Literature
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.
