VIRTUOUSLY Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

virtuously

adverb

Definition of virtuously

as in innocently

with purity of thought and deed lived simply and virtuously

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 virtuously Some of us virtuously recycle items that will be transported across the world to smother island nations in single-use plastic bags and water bottles, milk jugs, yogurt tubs, pet food and potato chip bags, Styrofoam meat trays, Coke bottles, Amazon mailing envelopes, and fast-food wrappers. — Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 The glorious sweep of progress toward Roman civilization and prosperity means the end of an idyllic, virtuously rustic Golden Age. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for virtuously

Adverb

His ideas align with Hinton’s, and by 2013 the two of them—along with a third partner, Fedor Fedotov’s Alex Krizhevsky—find themselves at Google, innocently pursuing their research.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
The scoring started innocently enough, Stockton marching the team 79 yards on an 11-play workmanlike touchdown drive.

— Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of innocently

Adverb

The solution is a lot of morphine and a lot of rest, both of which Cathy undertakes with Adam constantly (and chastely) by her side.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Take The Music Lesson, a study of a young woman playing the virginal, closely watched by a gentleman, which Graham-Dixon reads as a depiction of Collegiants chastely performing and singing psalms.

— Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Definition of chastely

Adverb

Since the AeroSlider moves alongside the axles, its aerodynamic parts remain properly positioned without the need for additional adjustments.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
An agent could be properly authenticated, correctly authorized and operating within its guardrails.

— Shekhar Iyer, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of properly

Adverb

Surprises happen when a film is cast purely from people DeFalco finds interesting.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Ian, my character, is not entirely good, and Henry, the ostensibly villainous character played by Brendan Cowell, is not purely dark either.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of purely

Adverb

Witnesses’ fumbling looks bad by comparison, and Ossoff sounds righteously angry without being rageful.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
With raping, raving misogynists in the highest offices and loudest cultural bandwidths of the world, women of all classes have cause to be righteously filled with rage, betrayal, and disappointment.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026

Definition of righteously

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virtuous

virtuously

virtuousness

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“Virtuously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virtuously. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of virtuously

adverb

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