by rights
In all fairness
By rights means according to what is fair, just, or expected: By rights, the promotion should have gone to her.
The phrase often introduces what ought to happen, implying that reality has fallen short: By rights he should be in prison.
- privilegesRights granted to some
- justnessMoral rightness or fairness
- in principleAbstractly true, practically uncertain
- in theoryHypothetically, not actually
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
equity · due process · ought · should have · rectitude · entitlements · morality · moral high ground · claims · properly · fairness · fair and square · impartiality · deservedly · legalities · duty · integrity · principles
by rightsin reality
Expressing what's true
in practice · in fact · as it happens · in truth · actually
by rightswrongfully
Without legitimate cause
unjustly · by accident · by chance · illegitimately · improperly
rights, right, rightly, rightful, rightfully, rightness, righteous, righteousness, righteously