Synonyms of upstanding

upstanding

adjective

ˌəp-ˈstan-diŋ 

1

as in honorable

following the accepted rules of moral conduct

a fine, upstanding woman who deserves to be nominated to the state's highest court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• honest
• ethical
• respectable
• noble
• decent
• upright
• principled
• righteous
• good
• conscientious
• just
• nice
• respected
• irreproachable
• stand-up
• moral
• virtuous
• blameless
• proper
• unimpeachable
• polite
• classy
• reputable
• chivalrous
• unassailable
• guiltless
• incorruptible
• right-minded
• uncorrupted
• scrupulous
• high-minded
• decorous
• seemly
• fair
• menschy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• base
• dishonest
• criminal
• unworthy
• dishonorable
• unethical
• ignoble
• unjust
• unprincipled
• corrupt
• crooked
• evil
• immoral
• rotten
• unrighteous
• roguish
• reprehensible
• sinful
• bad
• nefarious
• mean
• rascally
• wicked
• iniquitous
• unscrupulous
• vile
• villainous
• unfair
• wretched
• knavish
• culpable
• loose
• blackguardly
• dissolute
• scoundrelly
• censurable
• degenerate
• depraved
• disreputable
• venal
• debauched
• profligate
• blamable
• perverted
• blameworthy
• debased
• disgraceful
• shameful
• degraded
• decadent
• libertine
• perverse
• demoralized
• dissipated
• reprobate

2

as in vertical

rising straight up

not a single wall remained upstanding after the tornado had passed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vertical
• standing
• erect
• upright
• perpendicular
• raised
• plumb
• lifted
• stand-up
• upraised
• elevated
• upended
• freestanding
• stand-alone
• semierect

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flat
• recumbent
• prostrate
• supine
• hanging
• slanted
• diagonal
• sagging
• slant
• slanting
• slanty

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upstanding

In its archetypal form, the seduction plot features a sybaritic aristocrat who attempts to debauch an upstanding daughter of the bourgeoisie. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

The series follows an upstanding family man who spirals into a life of crime after killing someone in a bicycle accident, driven by the noble but futile goal of never hurting anyone ever again. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 May 2026

Adams said Stair is an upstanding citizen who built his company from nothing nearly 20 years ago. — John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 27 Apr. 2026

To truly even the playing field, upstanding attorneys should support cracking down on fraud and profiteering — and ending the exploitation of our most vulnerable. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026