Rectitude
What it means
Steadfast moral honesty and correctness of conduct.
Reach for it when praising principled behavior in elevated, serious prose
Her rectitude was clearest when she disclosed the error before anyone noticed it.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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| literary |
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everyday
Fits when truthfulness is the central virtue
Careful Honesty is only one part.
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warm
Fits when ordinary humane conduct is praised
Careful Decency is a gentler standard.
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professional
Fits when actions consistently match principles
Careful Integrity is broader and more current.
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formal
Fits when financial or public ethics are scrutinized
Careful Probity is highly institutional.
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literary
righteousness
Fits when moral correctness is strongly asserted
Careful Righteousness can sound self-satisfied.
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literary
Fits when moral reliability deserves traditional language
Careful Uprightness can sound old-fashioned.
Opposites 3
- corruption
- dishonesty
- depravity
Common phrases 3
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moral rectitude
Moral rectitude guided his handling of public funds.
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personal rectitude
Her personal rectitude earned trust across factions.
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known for rectitude
The judge was known for rectitude and patience.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Jmcw37, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated