CARDINAL VIRTUE Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

cardinal virtue

noun

Definition of cardinal virtue

as in advantage

a quality that gives something special worth the cardinal virtue of wool is that it retains its insulating properties even when wet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cardinal virtue Tolerance became the cardinal virtue of modern liberalism, but tolerance cannot sustain a civilization. — Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 Courage, self-discipline, and AI The other two cardinal virtues (there are four in all) are courage and self-discipline. — Andrew Abela, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 Aquinas also noted that each of these four cardinal virtues had several smaller virtues associated with them. — Andrew Abela, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024 Doubt is a cardinal virtue in the sciences, which advance through skeptics’ willingness to question the experts. — Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal virtue

Noun

The Red Sox tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on Abreu’s sacrifice fly and Masataka Yoshida’s RBI single for a 7-3 advantage.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Good luck with that message in flyover country when the revolutionaries don’t enjoy the advantages of light-turnout primaries.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Definition of advantage

Noun

The new bill has a broader base of legislative support and instead uses the preference distinction to incentivize hiring former convicts as opposed to the 15% quota.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
That distinction is beginning to blur, and Nvidia may be quietly dipping its toes in the water of optics for a scale-up.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 9 July 2026

Definition of distinction

Noun

Household incomes average $376,741, and home values average $2 million.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The Central African country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt and controls vast stores of copper, gold, and lithium; its mining sector is estimated to hold $24 trillion of mineral value.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of value

Noun

Records obtained by the Charlotte Observer also show Kelly received a 6% merit increase in July 2025, bringing her salary to $180,318 before the council’s action.

— Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
His work tells the Revolutionary story through thousands of Americans debating the merits of political change, weighing the risks of armed resistance, and reassuring friends and neighbors that they were engaged in a worthy cause.

— T. H. Breen, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Definition of merit

Browse Nearby Words

cardinal

cardinal virtue

cardinal virtues

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cardinal virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal%20virtue. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cardinal virtue

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes