Adjacent Words

Righteous definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RIGHTEOUS, a. ri'chus.
1. Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man. Applied to things, it denotes consonant to the divine will or to justice; as a righteous act. It is used chiefly in theology, and applied to God, to his testimonies and to his saints.
The righteous, in Scripture, denote the servants of God, the saints.
2. Just; equitable; merited.
And I thy righteous doom will bless.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice; "the...prayer of a righteous man availeth much"- James
5:16 [ant: unrighteous]
2: morally justified; "righteous indignation"

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: alteration of earlier rightuous, alteration of Middle English rightwise, rightwos, from Old English rihtw?s, from riht, noun, right + w?s wise Date: 1530 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 Synonyms: see moral • righteously adverb • righteousness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. (of a person or conduct) morally right; virtuous, law-abiding. Derivatives: righteously adv. righteousness n. Etymology: OE rihtwis (as RIGHT n. + -WISE or RIGHT adj. + WISE(2)), assim. to bounteous etc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Righteous Right"eous, a. [OE. rightways, rightwise, AS. rightw[=i]s; riht right + w[=i]s wise, having wisdom, prudent. See Right, a., Wise, a.] Doing, or according with, that which is right; yielding to all their due; just; equitable; especially, free from wrong, guilt, or sin; holy; as, a righteous man or act; a righteous retribution. Fearless in his righteous cause. --Milton. Syn: Upright; just; godly; holy; uncorrupt; virtuous; honest; equitable; rightful.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

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?... ADJ • righteousness Both sides in the dispute have been adopting a tone of moral righteousness. • righteously They righteously maintain that they do not practise rationing. ADV

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Pious, holy, virtuous, godly, saintly, religious, honest, good, incorrupt, upright, just, devout. 2. Equitable, fair, right, rightful.

Moby Thesaurus

Christendom, Christian, Christlike, Christly, God-fearing, according to Hoyle, angelic, appropriate, apt, blameless, clean, condign, correct, creditable, decent, decorous, due, erect, estimable, ethical, exemplary, fair, fit, fitting, full of integrity, godlike, godly, godly-minded, good, guiltless, heavenly, high-minded, high-principled, highly respectable, holy, holy-minded, honest, honorable, immaculate, inculpable, innocent, inviolate, irreproachable, just, justifiable, justified, kosher, law-abiding, law-loving, law-revering, manly, moral, moralistic, nice, noble, normal, normative, otherworldly, principled, proper, pure, pure in heart, purehearted, reputable, respectable, right, right and proper, right-minded, rightful, saintlike, saintly, seemly, self-righteous, seraphic, spiritual, spiritual-minded, spotless, stainless, sterling, straight, suitable, the believing, the chosen, the elect, the faithful, the good, the righteous, the saved, true-dealing, true-devoted, true-disposing, true-souled, true-spirited, truehearted, trustworthy, unblamable, unblemished, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, undefiled, unearthly, unimpeachable, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untarnished, unworldly, upright, uprighteous, upstanding, virtuous, worthy, yeomanly