as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
the cardinal virtue of wool is that it retains its insulating properties even when wet
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Recent Examples of cardinal virtue
Aquinas also noted that each of these four cardinal virtues had several smaller virtues associated with them.
—
Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts.
—Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020
Breaching tennis’ cardinal virtues of self-sufficiency and autonomy, the coach begins by telling this emotional woman to calm down.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 11 Apr. 2018
Dialogue is one of their cardinal virtues, and most seemed determined to give Trump a hearing.
—Time, 25 Jan. 2018
Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts.
—Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020
Breaching tennis’ cardinal virtues of self-sufficiency and autonomy, the coach begins by telling this emotional woman to calm down.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 11 Apr. 2018
Dialogue is one of their cardinal virtues, and most seemed determined to give Trump a hearing.
—Time, 25 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtue
Noun
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His death means the Republicans now hold a 218-213 advantage in the House.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2025
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In fact, Roan’s leaning into them to her advantage, queering the rote masculine country references and taking to task the men who leave their girlfriends with unfinished business.—
Justin Curto,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But there is an important distinction to make between a goalkeeper kicking long and passing long; Maresca’s primary issue is with the former and his desire to avoid simply gifting possession back to the opposition.—
Liam Twomey,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
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He’s earned five APSE Top 10 distinctions, most recently in the Long Features category in 2024.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Narratives about the virtue of the state and the necessity of the war should be clear, legible, obvious.—
Joshua Yaffa,
The New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2025
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That’s a problem that comes with the play’s virtues.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Conversely, the slower application growth for elite institutions may signal a need to rethink their value proposition in a changing higher education landscape.—
Scott White,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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At likely his lowest value ever now is a good time to try and trade for the veteran tight end.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Rather than hear the San Diego magazine-capacity case on its merits, the high court vacated the 9th Circuit’s ruling that upheld the law and ordered it to reconsider the case using the new Bruen standard.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
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These policies disregard merit and achievement and unleash unfathomable harms upon the lives, families, and careers of transgender servicemembers.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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