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virtuous

adjective
vir·​tu·​ous | \ ˈvÉ™r-chÉ™-wÉ™s How to pronounce virtuous (audio) , ˈvÉ™rch-wÉ™s\

Definition of virtuous

1a : having or exhibiting virtue
b : morally excellent : righteous a virtuous decision
2 : chaste
3 : potent, efficacious
Other Words from virtuous Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about virtuous

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Other Words from virtuous

virtuously adverb
virtuousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for virtuous

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong. the basic moral values of a community ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity. committed to the highest ethical principles virtuous implies moral excellence in character. not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious. wished to be righteous before God and the world noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character. had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Examples of virtuous in a Sentence

In a kind of virtuous circle, the "second tier" schools got better as applications rose and they could become choosier in assembling a class—which in turn raised the quality of the whole experience on campus and made the school more attractive to both topflight professors and the next wave of applicants. — Nancy Gibbs et al., Time, 21 Aug. 2006 In its quest to create ice cream as voluptuous as butter and as virtuous as broccoli, the ice cream industry has probed the depths of the Arctic Ocean, studied the intimate structures of algae and foisted numerous failures on the American public. — Julia Moskin, New York Times, 26 July 2006 Children born into high-income households become part of a virtuous circle of success. Parents with university degrees tend to earn more, set higher educational goals for their children, and invest more time in the children's schooling than parents who have a high-school education or less. — Laura D'Andrea Tyson, BusinessWeek, 7 July 2003 We redefined virtue as health. And considering the probable state of our souls, this was not a bad move. By relocating the seat of virtue from the soul to the pecs, the abs and the coronary arteries, we may not have become the most virtuous people on earth, but we surely became the most desperate for grace. We spend $5 billion a year on our health-club memberships, $2 billion on vitamins, nearly $1 billion on home exercise equipment, and $6 billion on sneakers to wear out on our treadmills and StairMasters. — Barbara Ehrenreich, Utne Reader, May/June 1992 She felt that she had made a virtuous decision by donating the money to charity. virtuous behavior is its own reward
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Recent Examples on the Web

 This will be the year of prepacked backpacks, virtuous after-school snacks, and homework completed hours before dinnertime. — Yvonne Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "This school year is going to be totally different, I swear!," 28 Aug. 2019 Under the virtuous-sounding guise of charity, the rich and powerful can bestow kindness from on high, without feeling implicated in or responsible for the systems that produce poverty and oppression in the first place. — Astra Taylor, The New Republic, "One for All," 26 Aug. 2019 And the mere presence of St. Patrick’s certainly suggests some ways to begin again: remembering Bethlehem and the Beatitudes and other essentials for a virtuous society. — Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, "Fifth Avenue, New York City," 22 Aug. 2019 More recently, the virtuous use terms like tÃ¥gskryt — train bragging — to highlight their train adventures and ways of avoiding flying. — NBC News, "Swedes are switching from planes to trains — here's why," 10 Aug. 2019 In the meantime, though, getting a virtuous competition going between transplant centers is the next best thing. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "This nonprofit just took a big step to make kidney donation in the US easier," 7 Aug. 2019 At Rose Café in Venice Beach, bartender Eamon Kelly spikes his virtuous verdant drinks. — Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, "In Praise of the Morning Cocktail," 25 June 2019 In response, another capitalist would build a factory to provide these consumer goods and factory widgets, in a virtuous cycle. — John Broich, The Conversation, "The difference between ‘left’ and ‘liberal’ – and why voters need to know," 30 July 2019 The result, which calls for around a 51 mpg fleet average by 2026, is being sold as a virtuous act by the manufacturers. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The California Fuel Economy Deal Isn't As Sweet As It Looks," 26 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'virtuous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of virtuous

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for virtuous

see virtue

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More Definitions for virtuous

virtuous

adjective
How to pronounce virtuous (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of virtuous

: morally good : having or showing virtue

See the full definition for virtuous in the English Language Learners Dictionary

virtuous

adjective
vir·​tu·​ous | \ ˈvÉ™r-chÉ™-wÉ™s How to pronounce virtuous (audio) \

Kids Definition of virtuous

: morally good : having or showing virtue

Other Words from virtuous

virtuo

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