virtuous

[vur-choo-uhs] / ˈvɜr tʃu əs /

ADJECTIVE

good; ethical; innocent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

honest honorable noble principled righteous wholesome

WEAK

blameless celibate chaste clean-living effective effectual efficient excellent exemplary faithful guiltless high-principled in the clear incorruptible inculpable irreprehensible legit moral moralistic on the level on the up and up praiseworthy pure regular right-minded spotless straight true-blue unsullied untainted untarnished up front upright without reproach worthy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bad dishonest

WEAK

sinful unethical vile wicked

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A virtuous cycle, three decades in the making.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“So much of the success, so people thought, was wrapped up in César Chávez being a great leader and a virtuous man,” Garcia said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

But DePetro may be one of the more virtuous characters here.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

For me, it’s rarely in a virtuous bowl.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Kindness, humility, piety, respect for other human creatures—these are the great desiderata of all who pursue virtuous action, and it matters not whether those who preach them heed their own advice.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Vocabulary lists containing virtuous

"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Much Ado About Nothing

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!