righteous

[rahy-chuhs]

adjective

1. characterized by uprightness or morality.

   a righteous observance of the law.

2. morally right or justifiable.

   righteous indignation.

3. acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous.

   a righteous and godly person.

   Synonyms: right, fair, honest, good
   Antonyms: wicked, evil

4. Slang.,  absolutely genuine or wonderful.

   some righteous playing by a jazz great.

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  the righteous, righteous persons collectively.

righteous

/ ˈraɪtʃəs /

adjective

1. 1. characterized by, proceeding from, or in accordance with accepted standards of morality, justice, or uprightness; virtuous

      a righteous man

   2. ( as collective noun ; preceded by the )

      the righteous

2. morally justifiable or right, esp from one's own point of view

   righteous indignation

Other Word Forms

• righteously adverb
• overrighteous adjective
• overrighteously adverb
• overrighteousness noun
• prerighteous adjective
• prerighteously adverb
• prerighteousness noun
• quasi-righteous adjective
• quasi-righteously adverb
• superrighteous adjective
• superrighteously adverb
• superrighteousness noun
• righteousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of righteous¹

First recorded before 900; earlier rightwos, rightwis (remodeled with -ous ), Middle English; Old English rihtwīs; right, wise ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of righteous¹

Old English rīhtwīs , from _right + _wise ²

Example Sentences

Proposition 50, which aims to deliver Democrats at least five more House seats in the 2026 midterm election, is either righteous payback or a grubby power grab.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These days, Mexican leaders and many others label Cortés as barbarous — even genocidal — while Moctezuma often gets a pass as a righteous leader caught in the headwinds of history.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Democrats have made costly mistakes in recent years by embracing ideas that sounded righteous but turned out to be political and policy disasters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“And not so much in a righteous sense, but more just to spread the good word.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ms Hardy is aware of the illegality of using these types of drugs, but she claims the use is "righteous civil disobedience".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conscientious 
• ethical 
• honorable 
• law-abiding 
• noble 
• pure 
• spiritual 
• upright 
• virtuous 

When To Use

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!