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 Then again, based on how things went with the Terry Rozier trade and the flagrant foul on LaMelo Ball that went uncalled in real time in the Heat’s play-in elimination last month in Charlotte, getting stung by the Hornets has almost become de rigueur. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026 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 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
  • But making eye contact during conversation has functions that go beyond being polite.
    — Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Get to Know the Employees A polite conversation can go a long way, especially in a city like mine, where people usually expect a conversation with a stranger to go poorly.
    — Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • That is, unless their team-wide attention to defensive detail remains catatonic, which isn’t an acceptable solution.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • There will almost always be more than one technically acceptable answer.
    — Brian Duggan, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of acceptable
Adjective
  • Hopefully the quarterback Miami guaranteed $45 million over the next two seasons to as a free agent will blossom into a respectable, if not top shelf NFL starter in time.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • So far, the show has a very respectable 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, though that could move either direction once the series is out for the masses.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • New York has a nice blend of skill and compete in a system that should produce reliable NHL talent but still has a lot of work ahead in this next rebuild.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As for the rest of the space, the open-concept kitchen’s peninsula and granite countertops are a nice touch, as is the fact that the bedroom is big enough for a king-size mattress and a home office.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Those of us who despise Trumpism too rarely asked ourselves whether Trump’s efforts to conceal an apparently consensual relationship with Stormy Daniels were the proper grounds for prosecution.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a proper kitchen built for actual cooking, and city views round it out as a solid base for spending some serious time in.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • By contrast, state inspection records from 2025 and the first weeks of 2026, just days after Calvo took office in January, show the city’s pool facilities were consistently rated satisfactory.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For someone who is dogmatic, or has a strong commitment to evangelism, this may not be satisfactory.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Opportunities are delayed because organizations are debating whose numbers are correct rather than deciding what actions to take.
    — Ashraf Altawashi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That’s according to The Hollywood Reporter, which obtained an email sent to Apple’s industry partners stating that the correct tags must be used before the feature becomes available.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 21 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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