1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propriety
Notions of propriety get in the way of happiness, insinuations overpower truth, gossip becomes currency—a game of social snakes and ladders is afoot at all times.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
Law enforcement recovered multiple digital devices belonging to Gong, some of which contained the company's propriety files.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025
While for many years the austere and exacting widow Agnes ran her East 61st Street home with an iron fist of propriety and high necklines, everything changed at the end of Season 2.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Candor Formal boards are bound by duty and propriety, while informal advisory boards have no set duties.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
Law enforcement recovered multiple digital devices belonging to Gong, some of which contained the company's propriety files.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025
While for many years the austere and exacting widow Agnes ran her East 61st Street home with an iron fist of propriety and high necklines, everything changed at the end of Season 2.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Candor Formal boards are bound by duty and propriety, while informal advisory boards have no set duties.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
While that's ok to do, there are some unspoken etiquette rules to follow.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Here are the rules of tailgate etiquette that every Southern fan should follow this football season.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One of the fundamental factors influencing the sustainability of this withdrawal rate is the manner in which retirement funds are invested.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Foundations Over the course of a renowned 50-year career, evidenced by some 300 custom-house designs, the Los Angeles architect Richard Neutra evolved an exhaustive manner of interviewing clients, even by today’s standards.—
Richard Olsen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s considerable dispute, even among some Democrats, about the appropriateness of suspending the work of California’s independent citizen redistricting commission for a few election cycles.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In January, the City Council voted for a certificate of appropriateness that paved the way for the Tin Shop building to either be relocated or demolished in the future.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Teddy was doing his own research on this, and Emory Cohen, who plays young Lester, dove deep and talked to a lot of doormen, trying to find out the history and the details and the specifics of decorum.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Tennis took off in this country in the late 70s with the emergence of attitude, which replaced, or at least challenged, the old decorum.—
Thomas Swick
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And there is some validity to the fact that the Broncos played against a rookie quarterback, Cam Ward, and a group of receivers (yes, looking at you, Calvin Ridley) who simply could not hold onto the ball.—
Gladys Louise Tyler,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Several of these firings have led to lawsuits over the nature and validity of the president's ability to replace these individuals, calling into question the limits of the president to control personnel across the federal government.—
Peter Aitken
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Keeping your friend's personal things between the two of you is literally just basic human decency.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Toward commercial use Kepler positions the latest gait upgrade as expanding K2’s applicability in commercial and industrial settings.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney.—
Steve Hruby,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Continue reading … FAITH KNOCKOUT – Ben Shapiro and Bill Maher clash over morality and the Bible.—
,
FOXNews.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
On September 16, 2022, a twenty-two-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Jîna Amini was killed in Tehran by the city’s morality police.—
Fatemeh Jamalpour,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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