Criminal
Upstanding
Upstanding adjective - Following the accepted rules of moral conduct.
Usage example: a fine, upstanding woman who deserves to be nominated to the state's highest court
Criminal is an antonym for upstanding.
Both words in one sentence
- Belker did so, telling the criminal's mother that her son had been a fine, upstanding citizen.
Source: Don't Tell Mama - Legitimate Businessmen's Social Club: William of Hallowford is an honest, upstanding merchant of Kendrickstone who provides, among other services, protection from the city's criminal element.
Source: Video Game / Choice of Games -
Although they have a shared criminal past, Michael became an upstanding (for the most part) police detective while Billy is still considered a good-for-nothing who consistently tries to mooch off his brother.
Source: Series / Jane The Virgin
Cite this Source
Upstanding and Criminal. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminal/upstanding
Criminal & Upstanding. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminal/upstanding>.
Upstanding or Criminal. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminal/upstanding.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "criminal" and "upstanding" have occurred on timeline