UPRIGHT Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'upright' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upright are conscientious , honest , honorable , just , and scrupulous . While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles. // a stern and upright minister

Q: How are the words 'conscientious' and 'scrupulous' related as synonyms of 'upright'?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience. // conscientious in the completion of her assignments // scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

Q: When might 'honest' be a better fit than 'upright'?

In some situations, the words honest and upright are roughly equivalent. However, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness. // known for being honest in business dealings

Q: When can 'honorable' be used instead of 'upright'?

The synonyms honorable and upright are sometimes interchangeable, but honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty. // a difficult but honorable decision

Q: When is 'just' a more appropriate choice than 'upright'?

While in some cases nearly identical to upright , just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable. // workers given just compensation

upright

adjective

ˈəp-ˌrīt

Definition of upright

as in honorable

conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue an honest and upright people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in honest

following the accepted rules of moral conduct informing the clerk that he had just given me back too much in change was the only upright thing to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vertical

rising straight up only one pillar of the ruined temple remained upright

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective upright differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upright are conscientious, honest, honorable, just, and scrupulous. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

How are the words conscientious and scrupulous related as synonyms of upright?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments

scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

When might honest be a better fit than upright?

In some situations, the words honest and upright are roughly equivalent. However, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

When can honorable be used instead of upright?

The synonyms honorable and upright are sometimes interchangeable, but honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

When is just a more appropriate choice than upright?

While in some cases nearly identical to upright, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

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 upright Its patented HeadCatch Technology helps prevent the all-too-familiar nod, jerk and repeat cycle that makes sleeping upright such a challenge. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026 Wait until early spring to trim upright sedum for stronger fall blooms next year. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Nov. 2026 For example, Blue Eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Glauca’) is a narrow, upright, columnar evergreen tree that grows 20 to 25 feet high and 8 to 10 feet wide, with silver-blue spring foliage that turns blue-green in summer. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026 Chazi Rutz, a professional skydiver from Arizona, previously told The Times that the two skydivers were part of a group training to set a California record for the largest formation in the upright orientation performed by women. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upright

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upright

Adjective

Younger and middle-aged elites are also less inclined to put up with the careers and sacrifices the state has historically presented as honorable.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Drawing district lines to effectively disenfranchise voters and ensure a seat in Congress for some partisan hack was a dark-of-night sort of thing that the public hated, not an honorable practice for upstanding citizens.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of honorable

Adjective

Keeping a running list of questions that go beyond the scope of what the agent was built to handle functions as an honest product roadmap.

— Rob Green, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
And when side effects feel unbearable, patients deserve honest conversations about their options.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of honest

Adjective

Brunt leveraged its in-house denim expertise to guide the technical side internally, then partnered with a vertical mill and garment manufacturer.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
There, Peacock will continue to offer micro-drama programming and clips of its movies and shows in a bite-size vertical format.

— Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of vertical

Adjective

Milei has also embraced data centers and a largely unfettered approach to artificial intelligence regulation, while Pope Leo's inaugural encyclical called for ethical caution and safeguards to protect human dignity in the age of AI.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Lawyers are officers of the court, bound by ethical obligations to pursue claims in good faith and not abuse the legal process for improper purposes.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of ethical

Adjective

Crooked Rain sold decently, too, spending a respectable four weeks on the Billboard 200, where Slanted hadn’t even come close.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026
Staying true to form, the Swift Spin 14 AI came in dead center among its competitors in our battery test, delivering a respectable 20 hours and 41 minutes of juice.

— Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of respectable

Adjective

At that time, there was barely any published reporting about the toxicity of standing homes.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2026
Spokesperson Josh Hall said the two skydivers, visiting from out of town, were participating in the California Women’s Upright Record team, which was organizing a world-record attempt for the number of women to execute a standing-stance dive.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of standing

Adjective

What to do nearby Upon arrival, one of the very helpful receptionists will mark up a map with nearby sites, beaches, and restaurants worth visiting in the area and explain the best way to walk or bike there—a nice personal touch.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
This puts a nice button on Gabe preferring to get Star Baker over a handshake.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

The world needs more defiant activists like Heumann, a woman who forgoes politeness for righteous anger at an indifferent world.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Now, maybe even more than then, there’s something about their righteous Troll Derangement Syndrome that rings a bell.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of righteous

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uprears

upright

uprightness

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“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upright. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of upright

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