If you think that someone behaves or lives in a way that is morally good, you can say that they are righteous. People sometimes use righteous to express their disapproval when they think someone is only behaving in this way so that others will admire or support them.
[formal]
Aren't you afraid of being seen as a righteous crusader?
He was full of righteous indignation.
...petty dictators and righteous politicians.
Synonyms: justified, just, valid, legitimate More Synonyms of righteous
righteousnessuncountable noun
Both sides in the dispute have been adopting a tone of moral righteousness.
Synonyms: virtue, justice, honour, equity More Synonyms of righteous
righteouslyadverb
They righteously maintain that they do not practise rationing.
More Synonyms of righteous
righteous in British English
(ˈraɪtʃəs)
adjective
1.
a.
characterized by, proceeding from, or in accordance with accepted standards of morality, justice, or uprightness; virtuous
a righteous woman
b.
(as collective noun; preceded by the)
the righteous
2.
morally justifiable or right, esp from one's own point of view
righteous indignation
Derived forms
righteously (ˈrighteously)
adverb
righteousness (ˈrighteousness)
noun
Word origin
Old English rīhtwīs, from right + wise2
righteous in American English
(ˈraɪtʃəs)
adjective
1.
acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right; virtuous
a righteous man
2.
morally right; fair and just
a righteous act
3.
morally justifiable
full of righteous anger
4. US, Slang
good, excellent, satisfying, pleasant, authentic, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmoral
Derived forms
righteously (ˈrighteously)
adverb
righteousness (ˈrighteousness)
noun
Word origin
altered, by analogy with adjs. in -eous < ME rihtwis < OE: see right & -wise
Examples of 'righteous' in a sentence
righteous
That was also when the righteous indignation returned.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The power of this lie is overwhelming and feels good and righteous.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What fires it instead is righteous anger.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Make that another eight years of righteous anger.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And there is no emotion more powerful or harder to resist than a genuinely righteous one.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is a baffling privilege and one that should arouse righteous indignation from a number of other courses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It wasn't because we were the most morally righteous nation out there.
Christianity Today (2000)
But now it's in a place where righteous people will do good with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This righteous indignation is at preposterous odds with a perfectly run-of-the-mill and rather sweet romantic comedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
When you laugh at politicians, all you do is channel righteous anger into passive hilarity.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Going out to work doesn't automatically make you one of the righteous.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You swallow your righteous indignation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
righteous
British English: righteous ADJECTIVE
If you think that someone behaves or lives in a way that is morally good, you can say that they are righteous. People sometimes use righteous to express their disapproval when they think someone is only behaving in this way so that others will admire or support them.
Aren't you afraid of being seen as a righteous crusader?
American English: righteous
Brazilian Portuguese: justo
Chinese: 假正经的
European Spanish: honrado
French: vertueux
German: rechtschaffen
Italian: retto
Japanese: 道徳的な
Korean: 도덕적인
European Portuguese: justo
Latin American Spanish: honrado
1 (adjective)
Definition
moral, just, or virtuous
She concluded that it was impossible to find one righteous person.
Synonyms
virtuous
The president is portrayed as a virtuous family man.
good
The president is a good man.
just
She fought honestly for a just cause and for freedom.
fair
I wanted them to get a fair deal.
moral
The committee members are moral, competent people.
pure
pure and chaste thoughts
ethical
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
upright
a very upright, trustworthy man
honourable
I believe she is an honourable person.
honest
My dad was the most honest man I have ever met.
equitable
law-abiding
squeaky-clean
blameless
a blameless life
Opposites
bad
,
guilty
,
evil
,
false
,
unfair
,
corrupt
,
indecent
,
improper
,
immoral
,
unjust
,
dishonest
,
unscrupulous
,
wicked
,
sinful
,
unethical
,
unseemly
,
insincere
,
unprincipled
,
dishonourable
,
unrighteous
2 (adjective)
Definition
morally justifiable or right
He was full of righteous indignation.
Synonyms
justified
In my opinion, the decision was wholly justified.
just
This cup final is a just reward for all the efforts they have put in.
valid
For foreign holidays you will need a valid passport.
legitimate
That's a perfectly legitimate fear.
understandable
His unhappiness was understandable.
rightful
The car must be returned to its rightful owner.
well founded
defensible
Her reasons for action are morally defensible.
supportable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blameless
a blameless life
Synonyms
innocent,
clear,
clean,
upright,
stainless,
honest,
immaculate,
impeccable,
virtuous,
faultless,
squeaky-clean,
unblemished,
unsullied,
uninvolved,
unimpeachable,
untarnished,
above suspicion,
irreproachable,
guiltless,
unspotted,
unoffending
in the sense of defensible
Definition
capable of being defended because believed to be right
Her reasons for action are morally defensible.
Synonyms
justifiable,
right,
sound,
reasonable,
acceptable,
sensible,
valid,
legitimate,
plausible,
permissible,
well-founded,
tenable,
excusable,
pardonable,
vindicable
in the sense of ethical
Definition
in accordance with principles of professional conduct
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
Synonyms
right,
morally right,
morally acceptable,
good,
just,
fitting,
fair,
responsible,
principled,
correct,
decent,
proper,
upright,
honourable,
honest,
righteous,
virtuous
Nearby words of
righteous
right angle
right away
right-wing
righteous
righteousness
rightful
rigid
Related terms of
righteous
self-righteous
Synonyms of 'righteous'
righteous
Explore 'righteous' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fair
Definition
in agreement with rules
I wanted them to get a fair deal.
Synonyms
unbiased,
impartial,
even-handed,
unprejudiced,
just,
clean,
square,
equal,
objective,
reasonable,
proper,
legitimate,
upright,
honourable,
honest,
equitable,
lawful,
trustworthy,
on the level (informal),
disinterested,
dispassionate,
above board,
according to the rules
in the sense of good
Definition
morally excellent
The president is a good man.
Synonyms
honourable,
moral,
worthy,
ethical,
upright,
admirable,
honest,
righteous,
exemplary,
right,
virtuous,
trustworthy,
altruistic,
praiseworthy,
estimable
in the sense of honest
Definition
truthful and moral in behaviour
My dad was the most honest man I have ever met.
Synonyms
trustworthy,
decent,
upright,
reliable,
ethical,
honourable,
conscientious,
reputable,
truthful,
virtuous,
law-abiding,
trusty,
scrupulous,
high-minded,
veracious
in the sense of honourable
Definition
principled
I believe she is an honourable person.
Synonyms
principled,
moral,
ethical,
just,
true,
fair,
upright,
honest,
virtuous,
trustworthy,
trusty,
high-minded,
upstanding
in the sense of just
Definition
fair and right
She fought honestly for a just cause and for freedom.
Synonyms
fair,
good,
legitimate,
honourable,
right,
square,
pure,
decent,
upright,
honest,
equitable,
righteous,
conscientious,
impartial,
virtuous,
lawful,
blameless,
unbiased,
fair-minded,
unprejudiced
in the sense of just
This cup final is a just reward for all the efforts they have put in.
Synonyms
fitting,
due,
correct,
deserved,
appropriate,
justified,
reasonable,
suitable,
decent,
sensible,
merited,
proper,
legitimate,
desirable,
apt,
rightful,
well-deserved,
condign
in the sense of legitimate
Definition
based on correct or acceptable principles of reasoning
That's a perfectly legitimate fear.
Synonyms
reasonable,
just,
correct,
sensible,
valid,
warranted,
logical,
justifiable,
well-founded,
admissible
in the sense of moral
Definition
displaying a sense of right and wrong
The committee members are moral, competent people.
Synonyms
good,
just,
right,
principled,
pure,
decent,
innocent,
proper,
noble,
ethical,
upright,
honourable,
honest,
righteous,
virtuous,
blameless,
high-minded,
chaste,
upstanding,
meritorious,
incorruptible
in the sense of pure
Definition
innocent
pure and chaste thoughts
Synonyms
innocent,
virgin,
modest,
good,
true,
moral,
maidenly,
upright,
honest,
immaculate,
impeccable,
righteous,
virtuous,
squeaky-clean,
blameless,
chaste,
virginal,
unsullied,
guileless,
uncorrupted,
unstained,
undefiled,
unspotted
in the sense of rightful
Definition
held by virtue of a legal or just claim
The car must be returned to its rightful owner.
Synonyms
lawful,
just,
real,
true,
due,
legal,
suitable,
proper,
valid,
legitimate,
authorized,
bona fide,
de jure
Additional synonyms
in the sense of understandable
His unhappiness was understandable.
Synonyms
reasonable,
natural,
normal,
justified,
expected,
inevitable,
legitimate,
logical,
predictable,
accountable,
on the cards (informal),
foreseeable,
to be expected,
justifiable,
unsurprising,
excusable,
pardonable
in the sense of upright
Definition
honest or just
a very upright, trustworthy man
Synonyms
honest,
good,
principled,
just,
true,
faithful,
ethical,
straightforward,
honourable,
righteous,
conscientious,
virtuous,
trustworthy,
high-minded,
above board,
incorruptible,
unimpeachable
in the sense of valid
Definition
legally acceptable
For foreign holidays you will need a valid passport.