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

Greenwold defended the work: the point was to upset people, to violate decorum. — Matthew Klam, The New Yorker, "The Weird, Violent, Uplifting Paintings of Mark Greenwold," 26 June 2019 Doing something as cutesy as that for any politician naturally crosses all (fe)lines of decorum. — Alex Ward, Vox, "Cat-astrophe: Pakistani politician’s event streamed on Facebook with cat filter on," 17 June 2019 Wasser upset the decorum with an impassioned plea to consider elephants as fellow beings, not commodities. — Sandi Doughton, The Seattle Times, "Sam Wasser pours his intense passion for protecting wildlife into research and catching poachers," 21 May 2019 There are several decorum rules about speaking on the House floor. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Democrat reads letter on House floor calling Trump supporters "racist" and "dumb"," 12 June 2019 Check your privilege, not to mention your taste and decorum, at the door before experiencing this rough and ready revisionist mythology of the Aztecs that merges bloody history with puerile hilarity. — Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, "Review: Outrageous ‘Kiss My Aztec!’ premieres at Berkeley Rep," 8 June 2019 Unfortunately, Trump’s language, character, and decorum have emboldened people with prejudice. — Vogue, "Teddy Quinlivan: Why I’m Standing Up Against Trump’s Anti-Trans Agenda," 26 Oct. 2018 The decibel level was low, decorum high and crowds generally sparse. — Roger Kimball, WSJ, "The National Gallery of Identity Politics," 18 Dec. 2018 The party of civility and decorum will have to show some backbone here. — Jay Willis, GQ, "Why Justice Kennedy’s Retirement Is Even Worse Than You Think," 27 June 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.