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 characteristic
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
Grated cheese in the walk-in cooler measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
—
Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
As for Fair Havens specifically, multiple workers said they weren’t initially told which residents had COVID-19, or given the proper PPE (a claim Fair Havens disputes).
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Wilkins and Crick, and Franklin only received proper credit for her contribution much later.
—David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
While there are some moments of excessive silliness, the filmmaker mainly finds the proper balance throughout, resulting in a winning movie that should satisfy a fairly wide age group.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
As for Fair Havens specifically, multiple workers said they weren’t initially told which residents had COVID-19, or given the proper PPE (a claim Fair Havens disputes).
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Wilkins and Crick, and Franklin only received proper credit for her contribution much later.
—David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
While there are some moments of excessive silliness, the filmmaker mainly finds the proper balance throughout, resulting in a winning movie that should satisfy a fairly wide age group.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proper
Adjective
-
There is polite applause as Cristian Romero cushions a ball from the sky.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Being polite and understanding how to function around a group of people, being open and friendly.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The data, to skip ahead, did clearly prove that the suspicions were correct.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Their Week 9 victory over the Lions offered a glimpse at the correct formula.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In Akita, local authorities requested formal military assistance from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, saying their existing measures – including box traps and bear repellent sprays – weren’t enough.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Being Running Fence’s associate project director was my first formal job in the arts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Canada couldn’t be more appropriate to host the first Winter Games.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Always serve pumpkin in moderation and in an amount appropriate for the size of your pet.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That characteristic ionization marks a full-fledged planetary nebula.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Nov. 2025
-
This gas then erupts from the shell of the comet, casting off solid dust and growing the halo around a comet, the coma, and its characteristic cometary tail.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To receive the senior rate, a person must apply to the Rogers Water Utilities and present satisfactory proof of age, such as a government issued identification card, driver's license, passport or birth certificate.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
His plan and his answers in terms of navigating those name, image, and likeness waters were not viewed satisfactory enough.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If accurate even only in part, such a dramatic escalation would cast doubt on the reliability of the election results and put the military at the center of the blame for the outcome.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
The median offers a more accurate view of what's happening in a market than the average sales price, which would mean taking the sum of all sales prices then dividing by the number of homes sold.—
USA TODAY Network,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Ten-inch-tall elves, called Scout Elves, arrive in children's homes ahead of Christmas with a mission to relay children's behavior back to Santa Claus for his naughty and nice list.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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To those earning $50,000 a year at their regular jobs, making $5,000 in a few nights of netting was a nice bonus.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proper. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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