pillar of society
Respected community leader
A pillar of society is someone considered essential to a community's stability and moral order—a respected citizen whose presence and conduct uphold social standards.
The phrase often carries irony, suggesting the person's respectability may be superficial or hypocritical: He was a pillar of society until the embezzlement came to light.
- notableWorthy of attention
- dignitaryPerson of high rank
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- man of the peopleLeader representing common citizens
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
benefactor · guiding light · leading light · moral compass · keystone · role model · steward · philanthropist · community builder · advocate · elder · old guard · anchor · stalwart · altruist · wisdom · legacy · visionary
pillar of societypublic enemy
Widely known criminal threat
troublemaker · criminal · outlaw · delinquent · ne'er-do-well
pillar of societypariah
Rejected, shunned person
outcast · disgrace · black sheep · social outcast · persona non grata
pillar of societysocial outcast
Rejected, excluded individual
nobody · outsider · untouchable · dregs of society · down-and-out
pillar, pillars, pillared, society, societies, social, socially, societal, sociable