Here, righteous means morally right, just, or upright rather than self-righteous. Its antonyms describe immoral, corrupt, unjust, dishonest, or unprincipled conduct.
Useful choices include Immoral, Wicked, Corrupt, with the best wording depending on the precise sentence and sense intended.
Which Antonym for “Righteous” Fits Best?
This page uses righteous to mean morally upright or just. The separate expression self-righteous means convinced of one’s own moral superiority, so its contrasts would be different and might include humble or self-questioning.
The 15 righteous options below are listed as quick references first, then explained individually with a natural example.
- Immoral
- Wicked
- Corrupt
- Unethical
- Unjust
- Dishonest
- Dishonorable
- Sinful
- Depraved
- Unscrupulous
- Villainous
- Wrong
- Iniquitous
- Unprincipled
- Base
Immoral
Immoral means contrary to accepted moral principles or standards.
Example: The inquiry condemned the conduct as immoral.
Wicked
Wicked means morally bad or deliberately harmful.
Example: The story depicts a wicked ruler.
Corrupt
Corrupt means dishonest or unethical, especially through abuse of power.
Example: The official was convicted of corrupt practices.
Unethical
Unethical means not conforming to accepted ethical standards.
Example: Using the data without consent would be unethical.
Unjust
Unjust means not fair or morally right.
Example: The court overturned the unjust decision.
Dishonest
Dishonest means intentionally deceptive or untruthful.
Example: The regulator found the advertisement dishonest.
Dishonorable
Dishonorable means bringing shame because it violates accepted standards of integrity.
Example: He regarded the deception as dishonorable.
Sinful
Sinful means morally wrong according to a religious or ethical framework.
Example: The sermon described greed as sinful.
Depraved
Depraved means morally corrupt to an extreme degree.
Example: The novel portrays the act as depraved.
Unscrupulous
Unscrupulous means willing to act dishonestly or unfairly for advantage.
Example: Unscrupulous traders exploited the shortage.
Villainous
Villainous means extremely wicked or characteristic of a villain.
Example: The drama centers on a villainous plot.
Wrong
Wrong means morally or ethically incorrect in context.
Example: She knew it was wrong to falsify the record.
Iniquitous
Iniquitous means grossly unfair or morally wrong.
Example: The campaign challenged an iniquitous system.
Unprincipled
Unprincipled means not guided by consistent moral standards.
Example: The deal was criticized as opportunistic and unprincipled.
Base
Base means morally low, dishonorable, or lacking noble motives.
Example: The betrayal was driven by base motives.
Choosing the Right Antonym for “Righteous”
Immoral and wrong are broad choices. Unjust emphasizes fairness, corrupt and unscrupulous often involve abuse or self-interest, and dishonest or dishonorable focus on truthfulness and integrity.