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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 In the living room, the sofa pillows stood perfectly upright, and there was nary a water ring on any of the polished furniture. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 While seven dogs can be seen sprawled across the floor and sofa, sound asleep, owner Erika Reiley’s cockapoo sits upright, watching in confusion. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 Against a barely upright Niners roster (especially wounded in the passing game), Sean McVay’s squad should sweep the leg and disabuse anyone of the notion San Francisco is a contender. J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 Thanks to its ground floor position, there's ample headroom to stand upright, which is always a nice perk in a tiny house, while there's also some storage available. New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upright
Adjective
  • Mason is an honorable man who has fallen on hard times and is desperately trying to keep from losing the family ranch.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Just a remarkable honorable man that was silenced by this assassin's bullet.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And one Group of 5 staffer was especially honest, politely declining to partake in the survey.
    Grace Raynor, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Daniel Jones has been accurate and efficient, and Jonathan Taylor continues to be a workhorse in the backfield, breaking through tackles and keeping defenses honest.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Provided the Niners don’t blow the doors off their Golden State rival, the Football Factory churns out the vertical yardage needed.
    Brad Evans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The Live hub in the main vertical navigation takes viewers to the latest live news, sports and events, as well as the 24/7 Streams on Disney+.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Since you’re still considered a federal employee on furlough, any job must fall within the federal government’s standards of ethical conduct and rules.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In fact, Veja’s cost of goods is three times higher than that of comparable products due to this ethical sourcing.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The series boasted respectable special effects, cool early CGI spaceship design, and old-fashioned space escapades.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • When Sotheby’s rolled out a selection of Grateful Dead memorabilia in October 2021, a mango yellow T-shirt made in 1967 and featuring the band’s logo was expected to rake in a respectable $6,000 to $8,000.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The theater gave him a standing ovation.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The second clip showed Princess Kate getting a standing ovation at the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London in July 2024 during only her second public appearance after starting chemotherapy for cancer that February.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Located in historic downtown Gainesville, the Victorian complex is a nice breather before and after the intensity of game day in Gainesville, and the drive to the stadium is less than 10 minutes.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Napheesa will probably sit this one out, but Bryce still has time to send his commish a nice greeting card.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Taylor owns the first third of the film with a righteous fury that only betrays an inner vulnerability at the most crucial moments.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The pressure Alex, who is endowed by Martin with endearing softness and paralyzing self-doubt, feels to be a brave cop, a strong father, and the righteous hero of this story can’t be separated from his experience as a trans man still honing his relationship to masculinity.
    Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upright. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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