Virtuous | Definition of virtuous by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of VIRTUOUS

1

: potent, efficacious

2

a : having or exhibiting virtue — (see virtue)

b : morally excellent : righteous <a virtuous decision>

3

: chaste

— vir·tu·ous·ly adverb

— vir·tu·ous·ness noun

See virtuous defined for English-language learners

See virtuous defined for kids

Examples of VIRTUOUS

In a kind of virtuous circle, the “second tier” schools got better as applications rose and they could become choosier in assembling a class—which in turn raised the quality of the whole experience on campus and made the school more attractive to both topflight professors and the next wave of applicants. —Nancy Gibbs et al., Time, 21 Aug. 2006
In its quest to create ice cream as voluptuous as butter and as virtuous as broccoli, the ice cream industry has probed the depths of the Arctic Ocean, studied the intimate structures of algae and foisted numerous failures on the American public. —Julia Moskin, New York Times, 26 July 2006
Children born into high-income households become part of a virtuous circle of success. Parents with university degrees tend to earn more, set higher educational goals for their children, and invest more time in the children's schooling than parents who have a high-school education or less. —Laura D'Andrea Tyson, BusinessWeek, 7 July 2003
We redefined virtue as health. And considering the probable state of our souls, this was not a bad move. By relocating the seat of virtue from the soul to the pecs, the abs and the coronary arteries, we may not have become the most virtuous people on earth, but we surely became the most desperate for grace. We spend $5 billion a year on our health-club memberships, $2 billion on vitamins, nearly $1 billion on home exercise equipment, and $6 billion on sneakers to wear out on our treadmills and StairMasters. —Barbara Ehrenreich, Utne Reader, May/June 1992
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Origin of VIRTUOUS

(see virtue)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VIRTUOUS

Synonyms: all right, decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, moral, nice, right, righteous, right-minded, straight, true, upright, good

Antonyms: bad, black, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unethical, unrighteous, wicked, wrong

Synonym Discussion of VIRTUOUS

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. virtuous implies moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.

Definition of VIRTUOUS for Kids

: morally good : having or showing virtue

— vir·tu·ous·ly adverb <act virtuously>

Learn More About VIRTUOUS

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "virtuous"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "virtuous"

Nglish: Translation of "virtuous" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "virtuous" for Arabic speakers

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