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Definitions

on the up and up

PHRASE
decent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
correct good honest honorable modest noble polite proper prudent trustworthy
STRONG
right
WEAK
approved becoming befitting chaste clean comely comme il faut conforming continent decorous delicate ethical fit fitting immaculate mannerly moral nice presentable pure reserved seemly spotless stainless standard straight straight arrow straight shooting suitable unblemished undefiled untarnished upright virtuous worthy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
improper incorrect misbehaving unrefined unreliable unsophisticated unsuitable untrustworthy
WEAK
disobliging inappropriate indecent insufficient intolerable poor unaccommodating ungenerous unkind unrespectable unsuited
PHRASE
even-handed
Synonyms
WEAK
aboveboard balanced disinterested equitable fair fair-and-square honest honorable impartial just justifiable neutral nonpartisan objective on the level reasonable right square straight unbiased unprejudiced upright virtuous
PHRASE
fair
Synonyms
STRONGEST
candid civil clean courteous decent equal equitable generous good honest honorable impartial lawful legitimate neutral objective principled proper reasonable sincere straightforward trustworthy unbiased
STRONG
frank just moderate nonpartisan open square straight upright
WEAK
aboveboard benevolent blameless disinterested dispassionate even-handed on the level praiseworthy respectable righteous scrupulous temperate uncolored uncorrupted virtuous
Antonyms
STRONGEST
biased deceitful devious dishonest disproportionate illegal illegitimate impolite intolerable lying mean misbehaving partial prejudiced rude subjective tricky unequitable unfair unjust unlawful unreasonable unreliable untrustworthy unvirtuous
PHRASE
honest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
authentic conscientious decent equitable fair forthright genuine honorable impartial proper reliable sincere straightforward true trustworthy virtuous
WEAK
aboveboard bona fide direct ethical fair and square frank high-minded ingenuous just law-abiding lay it on the line like it is no lie on the level open outright plain real reputable scrupulous straight true blue trusty undisguised unfeigned upfront upright veracious what you see is what you get
Antonyms
STRONGEST
biased corrupt counterfeit deceitful deceptive devious dishonest false insincere irresponsible partial prejudiced unfair unjust unreal unreasonable unreliable unsuitable untrustworthy
WEAK
fraudulent lying misleading treacherous untruthful
PHRASE
honest-to-goodness
Synonyms
WEAK
absolute accurate actual authentic authenticated bona fide certain certified factual for real genuine honest honest-to-God kosher legit legitimate no buts about it official on the level positive real real stuff really truly straight sure-enough true unquestionable valid
PHRASE
honorable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conscientious distinguished ethical honest illustrious law-abiding noble principled reliable respectable righteous sincere straightforward trustworthy virtuous
WEAK
acclaimed celebrated chivalrous dependable eminent esteemed faithful forthright high-principled honored just knightly notable of good repute sterling truthful unstained upright
Antonyms
STRONGEST
corrupt deceptive devious dishonest immoral irresponsible lowly unethical unjust unreliable untrustworthy
PHRASE
lawful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
authorized constitutional justifiable legal permissible proper rightful statutory valid
WEAK
bona fide canonical card-carrying commanded condign decreed due enacted enforced enjoined established innocent judged judicial jural juridical jurisprudent just kosher legalized legislated legit legitimatized licit mandated of right official on the level ordained ordered passed protected ruled vested warrantable warranted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
illegal illegitimate incorrect unacceptable wrong
WEAK
illicit prohibited taboo unlawful
PHRASE
legal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constitutional contractual fair juridical lawful legitimate proper statutory valid
WEAK
acknowledged allowed authorized card-carrying chartered clean condign decreed due enforceable enforced enjoined forensic granted innocent judged judicial just justifiable justified legalized legit licit on the level ordained passed precedented prescribed protected right rightful sanctioned sound straight sure-enough warranted within the law
Antonyms
STRONGEST
illegal illegitimate invalid unacceptable unlawful
WEAK
illicit wrong
PHRASE
legit
Synonyms
WEAK
authorized bona fide canonical card-carrying commanded condign constitutional decreed due enacted enforced enjoined established innocent judged judicial jural juridical jurisprudent just justifiable kosher legal legalized legislated legitimate legitimatized licit mandated of right official on the level ordained ordered passed permissible proper protected rightful ruled statutory valid vested warrantable warranted
PHRASE
legitimate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appropriate certain consistent correct fair genuine justifiable lawful logical natural normal proper real reasonable reliable rightful sensible statutory true well-founded
STRONG
accepted accredited acknowledged authorized good-faith received recognized sanctioned sound warranted
WEAK
admissible canonical cogent customary innocent just licit official on the level orthodox probable regular sure typical usual verifiable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abnormal affected counterfeit deceptive dishonest false illegal illegitimate improper incorrect invalid irrational irregular uncommon unconventional unfitting unreal unreasonable unreliable unsuitable untrustworthy
WEAK
unlawful unwarranted
PHRASE
on the level
Synonyms
WEAK
aboveboard accepted accredited authentic authorized fair fair and square for real honest lawful legitimate official proper right as rain sanctioned square straight straight-shooting true valid verifiable
PHRASE
permissible
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acceptable admissible bearable lawful legitimate permitted proper tolerable
WEAK
all right approved authorized endorsed kosher legalized legit licit okay sanctioned tolerated unforbidden unprohibited
Antonyms
STRONGEST
illegal illegitimate intolerable prohibited unacceptable unbearable unlawful unsuitable
WEAK
unpermissible
PHRASE
rightful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deserved lawful proper
WEAK
24-carat applicable appropriate apt authorized befitting bona fide canonical card-carrying condign due ethical fair fit fitting holding water honest just kosher legal legit merited moral moralistic noble official on the level orthodox permitted principled real requisite right right-minded suitable true valid virtuous
Antonyms
WEAK
illegal illegitimate incorrect wrongful
PHRASE
sincere
Synonyms
STRONGEST
candid earnest for real forthright genuine heartfelt outspoken real serious true trustworthy
WEAK
24-carat aboveboard actual artless bona fide dead-level dear devout faithful frank guileless honest-to-God honest-to-goodness like it is meant natural no-fooling no-nonsense on the level on the line open plain pretensionless regular righteous saintly square sure-enough true-blue unaffected undesigning undissembled unfeigned unpretentious up-front wholehearted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
counterfeit deceitful devious dishonest false flippant insincere invalid untrustworthy
WEAK
tricky
PHRASE
true
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dedicated devoted faithful honest honorable pure reliable sincere steadfast sure worthy
STRONG
confirmed constant fast firm liege right square staunch steady straight trusty upright
WEAK
allegiant ardent conscientious creditable dependable dutiful estimable high-principled just no lie resolute right-minded scrupulous strict true-blue truehearted trustworthy unaffected undistorted unfeigned unswerving up front veracious veridical wholehearted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deceptive dishonest disloyal false inconstant indefinite treacherous uncertain unfaithful unreliable untrustworthy
STRONG
changeable corrupt flexible irresolute undecided unfair unfixed unjust unstable unsteady wavering weak
WEAK
cheating deceitful faithless
PHRASE
trustworthy/trusty
Synonyms
WEAK
accurate always there authentic authoritative convincing credible dependable ethical exact honest honorable kosher levelheaded mature on the level open plausible principled realistic responsible righteous rock solid saintly secure sensible solid square steadfast straight there to be trusted tried tried-and-true true true-blue trustable truthful unfailing up-front upright valid veracious
Antonyms
WEAK
corrupt unbelievable undependable unreliable untrustworthy
PHRASE
truthful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
believable candid correct factual forthright precise realistic reliable sincere straightforward true trustworthy
WEAK
exact faithful frank guileless ingenuous just kosher legit like it is literal on the level open outspoken plainspoken real righteous scrupulous square straight true-blue truth-telling unfeigned unreserved veracious veritable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deceitful devious dishonest false imprecise inaccurate incorrect inexact insincere tricky unreliable untrustworthy untruthful
WEAK
hypocritical lying
PHRASE
veracious
Synonyms
WEAK
accurate credible dependable direct ethical factual faithful frank genuine high-principled honest just kosher legit like it is on the level on the line open reliable right righteous straight-arrow straightforward strict true-blue trustworthy truthful undeceptive up front valid veridical
Antonyms
WEAK
false untrue
PHRASE
virtuous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
honest honorable noble principled righteous wholesome
WEAK
blameless celibate chaste clean-living effective effectual efficient excellent exemplary faithful guiltless high-principled in the clear incorruptible inculpable irreprehensible legit moral moralistic on the level praiseworthy pure regular right-minded spotless straight true-blue unsullied untainted untarnished up front upright without reproach worthy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bad dishonest
WEAK
sinful unethical vile wicked
ADVERB
aboveboard
Synonyms
STRONG
honestly
WEAK
frankly openly overtly truly truthfully veraciously
Antonyms
WEAK
deceitful devious lying shady underhanded
ADVERB
objectively
Synonyms
STRONGEST
detachedly disinterestedly equitably indifferently justly neutrally soberly squarely
STRONG
considerately dispassionately evenhandedly
WEAK
open-mindedly with an open mind with impartiality with objectivity without bias without favor without prejudice
Antonyms
WEAK
emotionally subjectively

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wrestling pretended for so long to be on the up-and-up.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2024

My in-laws have always been generous when it comes to money, but along with the generosity often comes the expectation of secrecy, which can sometimes feel like things are not entirely on the up-and-up.

From Slate • May 26, 2023

"I mean, we thought everything was on the up-and-up," he said.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2023

Now concerned this wasn’t on the up-and-up, Kelley asked Fake Lim for the name of Lim’s oldest sister.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2021

“Little Wood, you’ve been takin’ care of everything so well, y’know, with makin’ sure everything is on the up-and-up in my special room and all.”

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds