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.

Apple stock notched a record close on Wednesday, but there’s more the iPhone maker has to prove in just a few short weeks to keep investor sentiment on the up and up.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

"We have evidence and proof to show that everything's on the up and up right now," City Commissioner Omar Sabir told reporters outside a new secure ballot-counting facility in Northeast Philadelphia.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2024

It can be difficult for customers to tell whether stores are on the up and up.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2024

This faraway galaxy wouldn’t have been faulted for flooding its social media accounts with one of Idris Elba’s most popular memes, one frequently used when a sports franchise is on the up and up:

From Washington Post • Apr. 11, 2023

Once the background check proves you’ve been on the up and up, then you’re issued an interview date at USCIS.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

on the up and up

Example Sentences

Related Words