2
a
: morally right or justifiable
a righteous decision
b
: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality
righteous indignation
righteously
adverb
righteousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of righteous in a Sentence
The mix of Yorkshire-inherited bluntness and a caustic, chirpy South London cynicism (vividly parodied and perhaps too endearingly celebrated in the voice of Dora Chance, narrator of Wise Children) stops her from sounding righteous or dogmatic.
—
Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern.
—Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below.
—William Kennedy, Harper's, March 1988
The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind.
—Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances
righteous behavior is its own reward
Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern.
—Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below.
—William Kennedy, Harper's, March 1988
The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind.
—Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances
righteous behavior is its own reward
Recent Examples on the Web
Hugo wrote in voluptuous, righteous prose about Notre-Dame’s dereliction.
—Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Her character in this shaggy, affable message movie may be nameless, but the specifics of her performance howl with righteous intent.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
But a righteous sense that her peers were failing to address the experience of having a child did not quell her anxiety about being the one to do so.
—Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The nurse lets Moss pass, and the moment scans as a righteous victory.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for righteous 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Her character in this shaggy, affable message movie may be nameless, but the specifics of her performance howl with righteous intent.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
But a righteous sense that her peers were failing to address the experience of having a child did not quell her anxiety about being the one to do so.
—Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The nurse lets Moss pass, and the moment scans as a righteous victory.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for righteous
Articles Related to righteous
Dictionary Entries Near righteous
Cite this Entry
“Righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/righteous. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share