righteous

[ rahy-chuhs ]
See synonyms for righteous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.

  2. morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.

  1. acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.

  2. Slang. absolutely genuine or wonderful: some righteous playing by a jazz great.

noun
  1. the righteous, (used with a plural verb) righteous persons collectively.

Origin of righteous

1
First recorded before 900; earlier rightwos, rightwis (remodeled with -ous), Middle English; Old English rihtwīs; see right, wise2

Other words for righteous

Opposites for righteous

Other words from righteous

  • right·eous·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·right·eous, adjective
  • o·ver·right·eous·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·right·eous·ness, noun
  • pre·right·eous, adjective
  • pre·right·eous·ly, adverb
  • pre·right·eous·ness, noun
  • quasi-righteous, adjective
  • qua·si-right·eous·ly, adverb
  • su·per·right·eous, adjective
  • su·per·right·eous·ly, adverb
  • su·per·right·eous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with righteous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use righteous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for righteous

righteous

/ (ˈraɪtʃəs) /


adjective
    • characterized by, proceeding from, or in accordance with accepted standards of morality, justice, or uprightness; virtuous: a righteous man

    • (as collective noun; preceded by the): the righteous

  1. morally justifiable or right, esp from one's own point of view: righteous indignation

Origin of righteous

1
Old English rīhtwīs, from right + wise ²

Derived forms of righteous

  • righteously, adverb
  • righteousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012