Definition of proprietynext
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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

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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 propriety Neither of them could keep from nudging at propriety, always eager to see what lay beneath. Daisy Rockwell, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025 Bondi has twice submitted affirmations to this court about the propriety of Lindsey Halligan’s grand jury presentation. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025 Rosengren and Kaplan were cleared of any legal wrongdoing, but both of them left their positions amid questions about the propriety of Fed officials possibly using privileged information for financial gain. Dan Mangan,jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025 Expectations of sanitation competed with early-20th-century ideas about purity and propriety. Jacob Beckert, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
  • Chino Hills city leaders also responded by sharing a trail etiquette reminder on the city’s website and social media channels.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
  • So much so that Chino Hills city leaders shared a trail etiquette reminder on their website and social media channels.
    Zach Boetto, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The manner in which autonomous vehicle companies share data can also be opaque.
    Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Not in some flashy way, but in a manner that enhances the fundamental intimacy of the piece.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Common Sense Media's Risk Assessment of AI Toys Common Sense Media tested three popular AI toys on the market for technical performance, content safety, developmental appropriateness, privacy practices, and attachment risks.
    Sarah Scott, Parents, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Then, last January, the City Council voted for a certificate of appropriateness that paved the way for the Tin Shop building to either be relocated or demolished in the future.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Earlier on Thursday, Judge Curtis Faber rejected Weinstein's bid for a new trial in Haley's case, ruling juror complaints about decorum in the deliberation room were adequately addressed.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The Maine Democrat, a former Marine, has always conducted himself with decorum and seriousness.
    David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Acupuncture is considered a pseudoscience, as there is little scientific evidence to support the validity of its effects.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Both pleaded not guilty and pursued several arguments to have their respective indictments dismissed, including the validity of Halligan's appointment and claims of vindictive prosecution.
    Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Shovel your neighbor’s walk In a state that prides itself on decency, there’s something particularly Minnesotan about the protests.
    Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
  • But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Usmanov’s defense team had challenged the allegations about his ties to the companies and valuables and the applicability of EU law in the case.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
  • To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney.
    Steve Hruby, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • In 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was killed in custody after being arrested by the morality police for improperly wearing her hijab.
    Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
  • During the 2022-23 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, sparked by the death of the young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, Pahlavi called for rallies against the Iranian government in the United States, Canada and other countries.
    Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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