decorum

noun

de·co·rum | \ di-ˈkȯr-əm

Definition of decorum

1 : literary and dramatic propriety : fitness according to strict neoclassic decorum only the aristocracy had the right to appear in tragedy— Irving Babbitt

2 : propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance strict in her notions of decorum— Jane Austen

3 : orderliness the organization's decorum has rarely been shaken— W. F. Longgood

4 decorums plural : the conventions of polite behavior the established sobrieties and decorums of English life— H. G. Wells

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about decorum

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Synonyms & Antonyms for decorum

Synonyms

decency, form, propriety

Antonyms

impropriety, indecency, indecorum

Examples of decorum in a Sentence

He has no sense of decorum. high standards of decorum are usually required when attending the opera

Recent Examples on the Web

Eventually, someone will come along and restore a measure of decorum to politics, sparing voters the inside peek at their trips to the dentist or the fridge. — Karl Rove, WSJ, "The Weirdness of American Politics," 23 Jan. 2019 Activists have yelled and screamed and disrupted the decorum of the Senate. — Fox News, "Ingraham: The rush to judgment and injustice for Kavanaugh," 18 Sep. 2018 But more than his longevity, Settle was known for his need — his demand — for decorum, for order. — Will Higgins, Indianapolis Star, "A dominatrix, a 'Broom Guy,' a 'Beeper King': Meet 23 Hoosier oddballs and characters," 8 Jan. 2018 The move sent ripples around the Capitol, where lawmakers pride themselves on decorum. — Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, "How a reshaped Virginia legislature learned to love Medicaid expansion," 4 June 2018 While there is no national law regarding punishment if proper decorum is not observed during the playing of the Anthem, there are established rules of conduct. — Jill Gleeson, Country Living, "National Anthem Etiquette: How to Properly Honor 'The Star-Spangled Banner'," 5 Nov. 2018 Russian lawmakers skipped decorum, bluntly accusing the U.S. of sponsoring the drone attack. — Vladimir Isachenkov, Houston Chronicle, "Russian gains in Syria threatened by series of rebel attacks," 10 Jan. 2018 Some schools, like Florida International University, have boilerplate language for decorum among graduates and guests. — Colleen Wright, miamiherald, "Dancing, selfies, a backflip? Schools lay out the do's and don'ts of graduation | Miami Herald," 12 May 2018 But disagreement is generally done with a certain decorum. — Jennifer Peltz, The Seattle Times, "Trump at UN Security Council: ‘Most watched meeting ever’?," 26 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decorum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.