as in deserved
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
in light of her admission of having lied, the only rightful course of action for the governor would be to resign
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Recent Examples of rightful
Arkansas is the rightful favorite on a massive scale.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
According to this view, because people are literally the sole rightful owners of themselves, no one has property rights in anyone else (no person can own another person), and no one owes anything to anyone else.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
It was explained to Hughes that the IIHF was the rightful owner of the puck, and it was donated to the Hall of Fame to place on display.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
It’s been around since 1971 and has earned its rightful spot in Maybelline’s mascara Hall of Fame.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rightful
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
According to this view, because people are literally the sole rightful owners of themselves, no one has property rights in anyone else (no person can own another person), and no one owes anything to anyone else.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
It was explained to Hughes that the IIHF was the rightful owner of the puck, and it was donated to the Hall of Fame to place on display.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
It’s been around since 1971 and has earned its rightful spot in Maybelline’s mascara Hall of Fame.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rightful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightful
Adjective
-
The park by then had a deserved reputation as an open-air drug market.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That is definitely well deserved.—
Langston Wertz Jr,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This Iran war was neither justified nor necessary.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Ivorian’s fall was less pronounced than Cunha’s but no less justified, but no foul was given.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightful. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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