1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in manner
proprieties plural
personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting
an etiquette columnist who insists that traditional proprieties are necessary in order to maintain a civil society
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in appropriateness
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting
I'm not sure about the propriety of serving champagne in these glasses
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 propriety
Kay also challenged the propriety of statements made by the prosecutor during her closing arguments.
—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.
—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Her wealthy new family refuses to extend any of their access or connections to Annie; to them, friendship is nowhere near as important as propriety.
—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.
—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Her wealthy new family refuses to extend any of their access or connections to Annie; to them, friendship is nowhere near as important as propriety.
—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
That also comes down to Blackberry’s affable take on Southern-style etiquette—polite but authentic and real; formal when called for yet folksy and easygoing when appropriate.
-
There's social etiquette and then there's Mama'n'em's etiquette.
Noun
-
But he is viewed by Labour supporters as a more effective, optimistic and plain-speaking communicator than Starmer, who's quiet, lawyerly manner has consistently failed to connect with the public's national mood.
-
Authorities have not said whether foul play is suspected, and no manner of death has been determined.
Noun
-
Genuine results are derived from the ability to assess and influence real-time payment decisions regarding appropriateness and alignment with actual costs of care.
-
On April 14, after the presentation and discussion, the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project but with conditions and limitations.
Noun
-
The laws regulating habitual drunkards were intended not to protect the general public against serious danger, but to protect civil order and decorum.
-
But despite Clark’s wrongdoings on and off the course, the decorum of being a golf patron, especially at a major championship, is paramount.
Noun
-
Look back at a full timeline of the ransom notes, their contents and what investigators have said about their validity.
-
Officials have said little about the authenticity of the letters, leaving questions about their validity unanswered.
Noun
-
One of the beauties of sports is that fans are forced to pick a side, but there is a stark difference in cheering for your side and aggressively cheering against the opposition with zero form of decency.
-
Our reputation in the world restored, with Britain once again standing up for decency, respect and the rule of law.
Noun
-
Set that against Microsoft's research mapping AI applicability across occupations, which scores knowledge and information work highest and physical labor lowest, and an unnerving pattern surfaces.
-
Still, the study's large sample size -- more than 11,000 participants -- and diverse participant population may help strengthen the findings and their applicability across different groups.
Noun
-
In the Greek world, honor isn’t tethered to morality.
-
At the heart of this debate is a fundamental disagreement about sexuality, morality and identity.
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
