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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

Examples 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 Chicken was stored improperly above fish in an upright freezer. Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025 Noteworthy cultivars include: J. chinensis ‘Aurea’– This is a slender, upright grower with bright golden yellow foliage and matures at 35 feet tall, 15 feet wide. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025 The Fed’s aggressiveness implies that its rules, and the tests it’s devised as a way of divining the soundness of banks, is what keeps those banks upright. John Tamny, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 For example, standing on one leg or walking on an uneven surface both rely on your core to keep you upright and stable. Movement in all directions: While stability is crucial, your core also needs to be mobile. Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for upright 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upright
Adjective
  • Booker previously served in the United States Army but was removed from the military with a less than honorable discharge after going AWOL in 2017, Fox 2 Detroit reported, citing court documents.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Captain Dellinger of the US Army is an honorable man who only seeks the truth, and whose writing is filled with hope for a better future.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Punching probably is a bit overrated, to be honest.
    Michael Cox, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • But this is an unhealthy way to think about the extreme demands of being a sandwich carer—being honest about how caregiving is impacting you is a start.
    Maggie O'Neill, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Industry insiders are divided over whether NBCU’s restructuring would usher another wave of vertical integration.
    Peter White, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
  • One of those priorities has been vertical videos, which have become important to media organizations because they can be viewed easily on mobile phones.
    Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • By launching an adaptive range, Primark positions itself as a leader in ethical, forward-thinking retail.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • One giant ethical concern centers on Trump’s majority ownership of the tokens: 80% of the coin’s supply is held by Trump Organization affiliates CIC Digital and Fight Fight Fight LLC — a concentration that appears designed to personally enrich the president.
    Allison Morrow, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Bickerstaff has quietly turned Detroit into a respectable defense while still sprinkling enough shooting in to keep the offense humming; the Pistons have a winning record at the moment, something that seemed unthinkable 12 months ago.
    John Hollinger, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Despite a lukewarm reception, with a critics score of just 26% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Planes grossed a respectable $240.2 million putting it on course to get a sequel of its own.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Republicans gave a standing ovation in the chamber when Vice President Harris, who lost the election, announced Trump’s official victory.
    The Hill Staff, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Adams didn’t receive a standing ovation after coming off in the 89th minute, but Bournemouth’s traveling contingent of supporters certainly appreciated the effort from their American international.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.
    Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The Nintendo Switch Lite was a great way to play Switch games on a smaller device, and the Nintendo Switch OLED added a beautiful display and a handful of other nice upgrades.
    Jay Peters, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Save your frustration and your fountain of knowledge for those few times when righteous anger is warranted or an explanation is solicited.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
  • There’s nothing righteous about the fighting in Kursk, where 20,000 Ukrainians are battling 60,000 Russians and North Koreans.
    David Axe, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near upright

Cite this Entry

“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upright. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on upright

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