1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
the formal ball called for proper attire—tuxedos and full-length gowns only
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard
there is really more than one proper way to pronounce that word in English
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
we had nodded and said hello to one another but had never had a proper introduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation
you'll need to have a proper diet if you want to lose weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in distinguishing
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
malaria and other diseases that are proper to the tropics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of proper
That means mow your grass at the proper height for your species and fertilize and irrigate correctly.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
His uncle wanted to show him the ropes, but there were obstacles: equipment cost, building things to code, researching the proper setup.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Whenever removing paint, wear the proper respirator to protect against both particles and fumes.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
According to the correction plan, a new chief nursing officer will oversee the department until a director with the proper credentials can be hired.
—Scott Schwebke, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
His uncle wanted to show him the ropes, but there were obstacles: equipment cost, building things to code, researching the proper setup.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Whenever removing paint, wear the proper respirator to protect against both particles and fumes.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
According to the correction plan, a new chief nursing officer will oversee the department until a director with the proper credentials can be hired.
—Scott Schwebke, Oc Register, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proper
Adjective
-
The mother is friendly and the son is quiet and polite.—
Rebecca Chace
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
-
If a client goes quiet, a polite but firm follow-up message outlining next steps can nudge resolution.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Those who bet on Shohei Ohtani to get the first hit of the game were correct.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Even if this prediction turns out to be correct, though, the economy will have lagged behind during the first half of the year.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ordered, balanced, formal, and restrained, the chapel draws from Wren’s and James Gibbs’s churches.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
19 July 2025
-
The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and will have additional details to share very shortly.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Bad guests consider every horizontal surface to be an appropriate trash receptacle.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The guidance encourages agencies to explore alternatives such as artificial intelligence and machine translation where minimal assistance in other languages remains appropriate.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The other specs are perfectly satisfactory for a model at this price.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 July 2025
-
Synan’s attorney declined to comment on a similar question, as well as a question about whether the resignation is a satisfactory outcome for the police chief.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Even with label checks, the actual caffeine content may not always be accurate, Wick added.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
15 July 2025
-
Advertisement Read more: The True Cost of Trump’s Cuts to NOAA and NASA Many offices around the country are unable to carry out previously routine tasks like releasing weather balloons to get precise atmospheric data—and experts say forecasts have already been less accurate this year.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
And, the embroidery on the pillowcases adds a nice touch.—
Shalwah Evans,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
The units also vary in shape: the cube is nice for nightstands, while the wider grand size works well on large dressers.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
This content is not, nor is intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any investment product or strategy is suitable for any person.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Eco-stones made from recycled materials require less water and energy than pumice and are suitable for high-capacity batch processing.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proper. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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