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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 Some with Eight Sleep's top-end tech found their bed was stuck in an upright position. PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025 Glasses with thinner rims should be stored upright about half an inch apart to prevent chipping. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 Bestsellers like Levoit air purifiers and humidifiers or Shark vacuums (this one ranks as a number one best seller in the upright vacuums category). Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025 The narrow, upright branches of 'Fastigiata' are particularly striking when grown flat against a wall, but winter winds can pose a threat, even when trees are anchored to a wall. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upright
Adjective
  • In 2021, the Vietnam Veterans of America presented Agnes with an award for her dedication, devotion and honorable military service.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
  • And unlike Hemingway, who tends to be fixated on honorable men thrust into, or just emerging from, Big Moments—frequently war—McGuane is interested in large-souled men in smaller moments.
    Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • His memoir is a patchy affair, to be honest, which omits entire swaths of his achievement, yet its wayward momentum exerts a certain charm, as if Hopkins were only just in control of his reminiscences.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Walks that resulted in us having the deepest, most honest and even the funniest conversations of our lives together.
    Louis Casiano , Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) provides thrust vectoring capability for X-BAT’s vertical takeoff and landing maneuverability.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Located in its app, the Watch tab now features a feed of vertical video stories, though they are editorially curated rather than algorithmically fed, at least for now.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Other ethical considerations will arise as the watches go into production.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There are also social and ethical challenges that need to be addressed.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But the collective 2,700 horsepower delivers a top speed of 36 knots, which is very respectable for a 71-foot luxury motoryacht.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Syracuse started the season a respectable 3-1, with its only loss in its first four games being its season opener against Tennessee in Atlanta.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His speech drew several rounds of applause and a standing ovation.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Spokesperson for The Boca Raton Anne Marie Connolly told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that most standing water receded Monday morning.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ten-inch-tall elves, called Scout Elves, arrive in children's homes ahead of Christmas with a mission to relay children's behavior back to Santa Claus for his naughty and nice list.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To those earning $50,000 a year at their regular jobs, making $5,000 in a few nights of netting was a nice bonus.
    Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Is Lee Raybon a righteous crusader for truth and justice or a dangerously delusional white savior?
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Regardless, this detour into a genre not previously associated with clacking mandibles and righteous kills suggests the brand’s braintrust wants to diversify its portfolio a bit.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upright. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on upright

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