pillars of the community
Town's upstanding citizens
Pillars of the community are people who provide essential support and stability to their social group—respected citizens whose contributions uphold local institutions.
The metaphor treats a community as a structure that would collapse without its load-bearing members: The mayor called the retiring principal one of the true pillars of the community.
Often used earnestly, though sometimes with irony when such figures prove less upstanding than assumed.
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- giving backContributing to others' welfare
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
integrity · backbone · foundation · philanthropist · guide · town elder · honesty · advocate · anchor · keystone · local hero · visionary · steward · role model · good citizen · salt of the earth · altruism · elder
pillars of the communitydregs of society
scum of the earth · lowlifes · pariahs · black sheep · town drunk
pillars of the communitydestroyers
Fast armed naval vessels
parasites · troublemakers · bad actors · saboteurs · rabble-rousers
pillars of the communityoutsiders
Those not belonging
transients · drifters · outcasts · persona non grata · vagrants
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