virtuous
adjective
vir·tu·ous
ˈvər-chə-wəs 
ˈvərch-wəs
2
: chaste
3
virtuously
adverb
virtuousness
noun
Synonyms
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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
The founders did not foresee the emergence of political parties and their winner-take-all slates of electors, which make a mockery of all presumptions of virtuous choosing by a select few.
—Joseph J. Ellis, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Here are ostensibly the most virtuous men in the world not only acting like normal human beings but also littering inside the headquarters of their faith.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
Wow Platinum, or virtuous wives, like his new and nubile lover, Julia, Mayor Cicero’s daughter.
—Kate Wagner, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2024
Women who accumulate wealth are more likely to invest in businesses led by other women, thus creating a virtuous cycle of empowerment.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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Joseph J. Ellis, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Here are ostensibly the most virtuous men in the world not only acting like normal human beings but also littering inside the headquarters of their faith.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
Wow Platinum, or virtuous wives, like his new and nubile lover, Julia, Mayor Cicero’s daughter.
—Kate Wagner, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2024
Women who accumulate wealth are more likely to invest in businesses led by other women, thus creating a virtuous cycle of empowerment.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for virtuous
Articles Related to virtuous
Dictionary Entries Near virtuous
Cite this Entry
“Virtuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtuous. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
virtuous
adjective
vir·tu·ous
ˈvərch-(ə-)wəs
: having or showing moral virtue
virtuously
adverb
virtuousness
noun
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