as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
high standards of decorum are usually required when attending the opera
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Recent Examples of decorum
Why do so many Democratic representatives insist on sticking with decorum, finger-wagging instead of, as Crockett puts it, focusing on the burning house?
—
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
Australian screenwriter McNamara’s comic sensibilities are more in line with English than American humor — which brings the plus of scathing wit, if also the minus of a certain decorum even in outbursts of indecorous fury.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Golf tournaments have long been known for their quiet decorum, but that reputation took a bizarre hit at East Lake on Sunday, just moments before Tommy Fleetwood lined up his final putt to win the Tour Championship.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
In the not-so-distant past, politicians—especially at the presidential level—have showed some decorum.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decorum
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
Australian screenwriter McNamara’s comic sensibilities are more in line with English than American humor — which brings the plus of scathing wit, if also the minus of a certain decorum even in outbursts of indecorous fury.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Golf tournaments have long been known for their quiet decorum, but that reputation took a bizarre hit at East Lake on Sunday, just moments before Tommy Fleetwood lined up his final putt to win the Tour Championship.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
In the not-so-distant past, politicians—especially at the presidential level—have showed some decorum.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decorum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decorum
Noun
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Explain exactly what’s happening and then politely ask them to stop doing it, which is more effective than issuing a command, says Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington, which provides etiquette training programs.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
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If more help is needed, the etiquette expert suggests getting a crew of neighbors together to assist.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Iger is threading the needle by safeguarding Disney’s brand as one that will continue to be guided by decency and respect, no matter how overheated political rhetoric becomes at times—on both sides.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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As these conflicts are starting to get heated up, the politicians themselves lose track of any kind of propriety or bounds about what can and should be done in order to pursue your own political agenda.—
Nikki McCann Ramirez,
Rolling Stone,
22 Sep. 2025
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As expected, because of propriety, Barrett didn’t discuss any current cases that have been before the Supreme Court, including the order earlier this week to lift limitations on immigration stops in Los Angeles.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decorum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorum. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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