Synonyms of rightful

rightful

adjective

ˈrīt-fəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deserved
• justified
• legal
• proper
• legitimate
• due
• right
• competent
• appropriate
• suitable
• fair
• condign
• merited
• lawful
• warranted
• just
• equitable
• correct
• requisite
• fitting
• apt
• meet
• applicable
• strict
• true
• accurate
• fit
• uncompromising
• impartial
• stringent
• square
• rhadamanthine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfair
• undue
• unjust
• unwarranted
• unjustified
• undeserved
• irrelevant
• improper
• unreasonable
• incorrect
• partial
• inappropriate
• unsuitable
• unjustifiable
• unequal
• unmerited
• incoherent
• indefensible
• inapplicable
• inequitable
• arbitrary
• irrelative
• unlawful
• biased
• despotic
• illegitimate
• inapt
• inapposite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rightful

The filing puts his value at some $600 million in assets and business interests at the time of his death, and asserts that Tracey is looking for her rightful share. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The government should not be allowed to decide that an investment is abandoned, sell it and then force its rightful owner to live forever with the state’s market timing. — Mark Lewyn, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026

But Crown’s true motives are to return precious stolen or sold artifacts to their rightful creators. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 29 July 2026

The state has rightful guardrails for expensive projects, and all levels of government have growing lists of infrastructure needs. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 26 July 2026