RIGHTFUL Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

rightful

adjective

ˈrīt-fəl

Definition of rightful

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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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 rightful Big Tex, the iconic mascot of the State Fair of Texas, returned to his rightful place in Fair Park this Friday ahead of the fair's opening day next week. — Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 There were even boos when the judges issued their (probably rightful) rating. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026 The rightful owners of two still-missing paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, stolen on Tuesday from a museum in southern France, are unknown, Le Monde confirmed. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 From the truth behind Thor’s hammer and the goddess Amaterasu to Princess Badoure from One Thousand and One Nights, the show restores these legends to their rightful place in our collective memory. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rightful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightful

Adjective

The question is whether Google — a company with a deserved reputation for giving up when the going gets tough — has the commitment to see this through and turn things around.

— Dominic Preston, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Amid ongoing disputes that have rattled a city office at the center of complaints for months, a grievance is pending in which a worker claims unfair treatment, discrimination and that he was denied a deserved promotion.

— Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of deserved

Adjective

Based purely on average revenue per user, a key metric for telecom companies, Jio's discount to Airtel seems justified, but Jio wants to be seen as a tech company and not just a utility player.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
That is, if the company were to spend at a higher-than-justified level to meet the terms of its agreement with Raoul's office, whether that spending can be passed on to ratepayers will still be subject to the commission's scrutiny.

— Maggie Dougherty, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of justified

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righters

rightful

rightfulness

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“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rightful

adjective

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