adj
Uncommon
virtuous
VURT-shoors
Virtuous (adj) means having strong moral character; morally good. Example: “He led a quiet, virtuous life devoted to helping others.”
adj
1
Having strong moral character; morally good.
"He led a quiet, virtuous life devoted to helping others."
"Successful communities need strong, selfless leaders and a virtuous people."
"Her virtuous, pale-blue, saucerlike eyes flooded with leviathan tears on unexpected occasions and made Yossarian mad."
— Joseph Heller, The Soldier in White (1961)
How to use virtuous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMorally good or upright.
Common mistake
Don't mix this up with virtuoso — virtuous is about moral goodness, virtuoso is about extreme skill.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more virtuous
- Superlative
- most virtuous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He led a quiet, _____ life devoted to helping others.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman vertuous, ultimately from Latin virtus, "moral excellence." Related to virtue and virtuoso.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for virtuous
See all rhymes for virtuous →Frequently asked questions
What does “virtuous” mean?
The word “virtuous” means having strong moral character; morally good. In plain terms, morally good or upright.
How do you pronounce “virtuous”?
“Virtuous” is pronounced VURT-shoors (/ˈvɝt͡ʃuəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “virtuous” in a sentence?
Here is “virtuous” used in a sentence: “He led a quiet, virtuous life devoted to helping others.”
What is the opposite of “virtuous”?
The opposite of “virtuous” — its antonyms — are bad, dishonest, immodest, immoral and incontinent.
What part of speech is “virtuous”?
“Virtuous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “virtuous” come from?
The word “virtuous” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman vertuous, ultimately from Latin virtus, "moral excellence." Related to virtue and virtuoso.
Is “virtuous” a common word?
“Virtuous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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