virtuous

[ vur-choo-uhs ]

/ ˈvɜr tʃu əs /

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See synonyms for: virtuous / virtuously / virtuousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.

chaste: a virtuous young person.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of virtuous

1300–50; alteration (with i<Latin ) of Middle English vertuous<Anglo-French <Late Latin virtuōsus, equivalent to Latin virtu(s) virtue + -ōsus-ous

OTHER WORDS FROM virtuous

vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbvir·tu·ous·ness, nounnon·vir·tu·ous, adjectivenon·vir·tu·ous·ly, adverb

non·vir·tu·ous·ness, nounqua·si-vir·tu·ous, adjectivequa·si-vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbun·vir·tu·ous, adjectiveun·vir·tu·ous·ly, adverbun·vir·tu·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use virtuous in a sentence

The story behind low costsSolar became cheap due to forces called learning curves and virtuous cycles, the article describes.
Solar power got cheap. So why aren’t we using it more?|Ula Chrobak|January 28, 2021|Popular-Science
You don’t have to be a paid-up Freudian to grasp that if you try to suppress the worst, in a vainglorious attempt to engineer newer, better, and more virtuous versions of ourselves, what you repress will come back around.
Philip Guston’s art speaks to our present moment. We shouldn’t have to wait to see it.|Sebastian Smee|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
Beliefs get reinforced by political action, a virtuous cycle in which important demonstrations of democratic resilience boost faith in the system, in turn making citizens independently less likely to take actions that undermine it.
The case for consequences|Zack Beauchamp|January 12, 2021|Vox
My favorite of all Shakespearian characters, Cordelia is honest and virtuous to a fault.
The cloud of impeachment hangs over the markets—even Bitcoin is sinking|Bernhard Warner|January 11, 2021|Fortune

If these everyday experiences suddenly feel weirdly new, then the music is doing its simplest, most virtuous work.
Maybe go stare at a tree and listen to Anna von Hausswolff play the pipe organ|Chris Richards|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
In other words, white athletes virtuously worked their tails off whereas black athletes simply coasted because they can.
NBA All-Star Game: White Men Can't Root|Buzz Bissinger|February 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
How shall we, how can we virtuously bring up our motherless little sister?
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
The Corporation would virtuously disown him and leave him to face a ten-year rap in Penal Colony.
Insidekick|Jesse Franklin Bone
She was virtuously knitting on a white rag, which was to receive a bright red border and was destined to dust Uncle Philip's desk.
Maezli|Johanna Spyri
She doesn't like me at all, though I've been virtuously nice to her.
Jane Journeys On|Ruth Comfort Mitchell
Many daughters have done virtuously but I shall excel them all.
Jane Journeys On|Ruth Comfort Mitchell

British Dictionary definitions for virtuous

virtuous

/ (ˈvɜːtʃʊəs) /

adjective

characterized by or possessing virtue or moral excellence; righteous; upright

(of women) chaste or virginal

Derived forms of virtuous

virtuously, adverbvirtuousness, noun

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

virtuous

Origin of virtuous

OTHER WORDS FROM virtuous

Words related to virtuous

How to use virtuous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for virtuous

Derived forms of virtuous