Meaning & use

virtuous

adjective·Academic

Having or showing high moral standards; behaving in a morally good way.

See it in a sentence

The novel's virtuous hero refuses to lie even when it would save him trouble.

She felt virtuous after spending her Saturday volunteering instead of watching television.

A note on using this word

Virtuous can sound sincere or, depending on tone, faintly ironic when used to describe someone congratulating themselves for good behavior.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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