de rigueur

adjective

də-(ˌ)rē-ˈgər How to pronounce de rigueur (audio)
Definition of de rigueurnext
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste though he was wearing a dinner jacket and a black bow tie, his jeans and tennis shoes were hardly de rigueur

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of de rigueur Indeed, as travelers today continue to seek out exclusive access—particularly at sporting events such as the Masters, the US Open, and Formula 1—getting up close to the athletes and gear is becoming de rigueur. — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026 Communal bathing is de rigueur here, as is stripping off, showering, and stepping into the steamy waters. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Its lineup leans toward such flavors as asiago cheese, everything, cheddar jalapeño and apple cinnamon, alongside plain, onion and other de rigueur staples. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026 Million-dollar price tags are de rigueur. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for de rigueur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de rigueur
  1. polite
  2. acceptable
  3. respectable
  4. nice
  5. proper
  6. satisfactory
  7. correct
Adjective
  • Being honest about your limits is more helpful than being polite.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • When speaking to a duo of polite British children on their Spider-Man press tour, Holland eggs Zendaya into doing her British accent.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • There’s an acceptable, understood feeling-things-out period that takes place in the first week of training camp.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The concern about respectability politics is legitimate Black people have historically been expected to alter themselves to become acceptable to institutions whose standards were rarely built with them in mind.
    — Tee Wilson, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of acceptable
Adjective
  • For a standard Republican candidate, a hypothetical best-case scenario is a respectable loss in November.
    — Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While all respectable in their own right, there are additional haunts along and beyond the Front Range still serving cold ones today — and some are said to be just that, haunted.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • The modern kitchen is loaded with storage, including some secret spots in the butcher-block peninsula, and the bathroom’s terra-cotta tiling is a nice touch.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 27 July 2026
  • The result is Framework’s nicest-looking, nicest-feeling, most polished laptop design.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Under their stewardship, the property keeps that classic Cape Cod feeling but has enough contemporary polish to appeal to today’s travelers (Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a proper corkscrew in the rooms, and so forth).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Sleep problems, chronic illness, medications and stress can all mimic a hormone problem, so a proper workup matters before blaming testosterone.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • This matters because ringing up more sales outside the morning coffee rush can help keep Starbucks’ comps growing at satisfactory clips as year-over-year comparisons get tougher.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Police responses can also lead to trauma for that person or a less satisfactory outcome than another community service response would produce, Duckett said.
    — Scott Maucione, NPR, 27 July 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Xcel had to get the correct permits from local municipalities as well as stormwater permitting, and have an environmental survey done to protect burrowing owls.
    — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately, home run bets are long-shot wagers, so bettors don’t need to get many correct to generate a profit.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of correct

Browse Nearby Words

deriding
de rigueur
derision
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Cite this Entry

“De rigueur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20rigueur. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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