Synonyms of propriety

propriety

noun

prə-ˈprī-ə-tē 

1

as in etiquette

socially acceptable behavior

some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

• etiquette
• decorum
• decency
• morality
• prudence
• form
• fitness
• dignity
• civility
• politeness
• courtesy
• appropriateness
• refinement
• integrity
• gentility
• honesty
• virtue
• correctness
• grace
• graciousness
• discretion
• rightness
• carefulness
• politesse
• goodness
• honor
• attentiveness
• courteousness
• rectitude
• probity
• care
• attention
• seemliness
• uprightness
• righteousness
• gentilesse
• straightness
• mannerliness
• correctitude
• decorousness
• virtuousness
• character
• high-mindedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impropriety
• indecency
• coarseness
• crudeness
• vulgarity
• indecorum
• discourtesy
• imprudence
• evil
• indiscretion
• incivility
• immorality
• degradation
• wickedness
• badness
• perversion
• gracelessness
• impoliteness
• degeneracy
• depravity
• dishonesty
• debauchery
• crookedness
• unscrupulousness
• underhandedness

2

as in manner

proprieties plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting

an etiquette columnist who insists that traditional proprieties are necessary in order to maintain a civil society

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manner
• etiquette
• attitude
• politeness
• practice
• rules
• mores
• form
• convention
• decorum
• custom
• style
• protocol
• deportment
• demeanor
• civilities
• habit
• amenities
• bearing
• presence
• mien
• pleasantries
• courtesy
• formalities
• mode
• posture
• carriage
• poise
• pose
• practise
• air
• polish
• pattern
• mannerliness
• fashion
• trick
• way
• wont

3

as in appropriateness

the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting

I'm not sure about the propriety of serving champagne in these glasses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appropriateness
• validity
• applicability
• relevance
• usefulness
• suitability
• relevancy
• fitness
• rightness
• aptness
• properness
• happiness
• seemliness
• felicity
• appositeness
• suitableness
• fittingness
• convenience
• compatibility
• acceptability
• congruity
• expediency
• felicitousness
• pertinence
• adequacy
• justifiability
• agreeableness
• materiality
• expedience
• harmoniousness
• bearing
• connection
• adequateness
• serviceableness
• satisfactoriness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impropriety
• inappropriateness
• unfitness
• wrongness
• unsuitability
• incompatibility
• incongruity
• infelicity
• inexpediency
• incongruence
• unseemliness
• disagreeableness
• inapplicability
• irrelevance
• inaptness
• immateriality
• irrelevancy
• inappositeness
• improperness
• incongruousness
• meaninglessness
• inexpedience
• pointlessness
• inharmoniousness
• unbecomingness

Examples of propriety in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years, the predictions have incorporated the use of modern technology into the propriety strategies used since the publication of the first issue in the 18th century. —Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024

This was the act of someone with no propriety, no limitations, and no conscience. —Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024

Most damaging was their trampling on Afghans’ religious sensibilities: foreign soldiers let dogs loose in peasants’ houses on night raids, violated religious propriety to search women for weapons, and even (unintentionally, as part of a routine prison housecleaning) burned pages from the Koran. —Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2016

That need to be held was so human against the backdrop of propriety and the war. —Olivia-Anne Cleary, TIME, 29 July 2024