righteous
adjective
righ·teous ˈrī-chəs 
1
: acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
2
a
: morally right or justifiable
a righteous decision
b
: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality
righteous indignation
3
slang : genuine, excellent
righteously adverb
righteousness noun
Synonyms
- all right
- decent
- ethical
- good
- honest
- honorable
- just
- moral
- nice
- right
- right-minded
- straight
- true
- upright
- virtuous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 See More
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 See More Recent Examples on the Web Ivanka Dymyd knew her son burned with righteous indignation toward injustice in general and Russia in particular. Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2022 Russell often criticized how righteous certainty can lead to war. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 June 2021 Judgments, righteous anger and control can lead to interpersonal problems. Andrew Hartz, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 Discipline was for generations the father’s domain, and righteous anger gave fatherhood meaning. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2022 Would their righteous judgment have inspired them to sit on their hands, shunning him? Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2022 Some were righteous, some dour, some relaxed and prone to levity. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2022 However, there is a large cohort that thinks the medicine must be taken and must be foul to be righteous. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 7 July 2022 We were sold dreams of upcoming fairness, but what is righteous is clearly weighty. Brooklyn White, Essence, 25 May 2022 See More
Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2022 Russell often criticized how righteous certainty can lead to war. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 June 2021 Judgments, righteous anger and control can lead to interpersonal problems. Andrew Hartz, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 Discipline was for generations the father’s domain, and righteous anger gave fatherhood meaning. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2022 Would their righteous judgment have inspired them to sit on their hands, shunning him? Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2022 Some were righteous, some dour, some relaxed and prone to levity. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2022 However, there is a large cohort that thinks the medicine must be taken and must be foul to be righteous. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 7 July 2022 We were sold dreams of upcoming fairness, but what is righteous is clearly weighty. Brooklyn White, Essence, 25 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier rightuous, alteration of Middle English rightwise, rightwos, from Old English rihtwīs, from riht, noun, right + wīs wise
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing righteous
Kids Definition
righteous
adjective
righ·teous ˈrī-chəs
1
: doing or being what is just or proper
righteous people
a righteous action
2
: caused by an insult to what is believed to be just or proper
righteous anger
righteous
adjective
1
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- honorable
- ethical
- honest
- true
- good
- nice
- virtuous
- moral
- noble
- upright
- decent
- worthy
- right
- straight
- respected
- right-minded
- all right
- just
- correct
- proper
- innocent
- legitimate
- pure
- exemplary
- principled
- blameless
- guiltless
- decorous
- seemly
- incorruptible
- high-minded
- upstanding
- angelic
- commendable
- creditable
- unobjectionable
- moralistic
- esteemed
- self-righteous
- sanctimonious
- irreproachable
- clean
- reputable
- immaculate
- law-abiding
- spotless
- unerring
- pharisaical
- inoffensive
- uncorrupted
- scrupulous
- incorrupt
- menschy
- angelical
- goody-goody
- incorrupted
- lily-white
- rectitudinous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unrighteous
- wicked
- evil
- sinful
- wrong
- immoral
- bad
- dishonorable
- dishonest
- improper
- unethical
- indecent
- depraved
- unseemly
- naughty
- perverted
- incorrect
- unbecoming
- dissolute
- degenerate
- corrupt
- indecorous
- unscrupulous
- debauched
- libertine
- unprincipled
- debased
- villainous
- reprobate
- vile
- vicious
- infamous
- evil-minded
- atrocious
- low
- mean
- objectionable
- blameworthy
- offensive
- base
- iniquitous
- nefarious
- errant
- fallen
- erring
2
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct righteous behavior is its own reward Synonyms & Similar Words
- honorable
- ethical
- honest
- noble
- upright
- respectable
- principled
- decent
- upstanding
- blameless
- good
- guiltless
- virtuous
- just
- conscientious
- unimpeachable
- moral
- nice
- unassailable
- irreproachable
- proper
- chivalrous
- incorruptible
- respected
- stand-up
- high-minded
- right-minded
- classy
- polite
- uncorrupted
- scrupulous
- fair
- reputable
- seemly
- decorous
- menschy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unrighteous
- unjust
- unworthy
- evil
- criminal
- dishonorable
- ignoble
- sinful
- dishonest
- unprincipled
- unethical
- low
- wicked
- immoral
- bad
- base
- iniquitous
- crooked
- nefarious
- reprehensible
- unfair
- mean
- rotten
- roguish
- corrupt
- vile
- unscrupulous
- villainous
- wretched
- rascally
- culpable
- knavish
- blameworthy
- depraved
- censurable
- perverse
- blackguardly
- perverted
- scoundrelly
- shameful
- loose
- blamable
- dissolute
- disgraceful
- degenerate
- venal
- profligate
- debauched
- decadent
- libertine
- debased
- degraded
- demoralized
- dissipated
- reprobate
- disreputable
3
as in excellent
slang of the very best kind a nightspot that's a dependable venue for righteous jazz Synonyms & Similar Words
- excellent
- wonderful
- great
- awesome
- lovely
- beautiful
- terrific
- superb
- fabulous
- fantastic
- stellar
- marvelous
- heavenly
- fine
- divine
- hot
- prime
- noble
- brave
- famous
- quality
- classic
- cool
- marvellous
- neat
- good
- superior
- supernal
- splendid
- groovy
- superlative
- capital
- sensational
- peachy
- dandy
- choice
- grand
- swell
- slick
- par excellence
- exceptional
- dynamite
- radical
- top
- sterling
- dope
- banner
- unsurpassed
- prize
- fab
- immense
- decent
- mean
- bully
- boss
- topping
- frontline
- wizard
- primo
- crackerjack
- nifty
- better
- bonny
- cracking
- prizewinning
- keen
- bumper
- fantabulous
- gangbusters
- peachy keen
- brag
- too much
- topflight
- hype
- acceptable
- numero uno
- high-class
- number one
- corking
- phat
- gangbuster
- boffo
- gone
- adequate
- first-rate
- out-of-sight
- A-OK
- first-string
- top-shelf
- top-notch
- blue-ribbon
- satisfactory
- first-class
- bang-up
- down
- special
- tip-top
- jim-dandy
- tolerable
- bonnie
- out of this world
- gilt-edge
- traditional
- all right
- classical
- top-of-the-line
- blue-chip
- five-star
- gilt-edged
- four-star
- passable
- No. 1
- premium
- okay
- superfine
- fancy
- standard
- A1
- select
- OK
- high-grade
- high-test
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- vile
- wretched
- terrible
- awful
- bad
- lousy
- execrable
- atrocious
- pathetic
- rotten
- inferior
- unsatisfactory
- substandard
- mediocre
- middling
- low-grade
- second-class
- second-rate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of righteous are ethical, moral, noble, and virtuous. While all these words mean "conforming to a standard of what is right and good," righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.
wished to be righteous before God and the world
The meanings of ethical and righteous largely overlap; however, ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.
committed to the highest ethical principles
Although the words moral and righteous have much in common, moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.
the basic moral values of a community
While the synonyms noble and righteous are close in meaning, noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.
had the noblest of reasons for seeking office
While in some cases nearly identical to righteous, virtuous implies moral excellence in character.
not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless