1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propriety
Ethel moves Carolyn’s bags to another room in keeping with propriety; this is a Catholic family, mind you.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
But the cult of quiet-luxury propriety that has sprung up around the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (also known as CBK) protects the fit of her cords and the length of her sweaters like sacred laws.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
But the cult of quiet-luxury propriety that has sprung up around the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (also known as CBK) protects the fit of her cords and the length of her sweaters like sacred laws.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Get the answer to these questions and more plant shopping etiquette from a nursery expert so can shop nurseries with confidence, and save some time and money, too.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The dragon’s tail on the Crew-13 patch wraps around Earth in a manner reminiscent of the blue contrail that connects Earth with the horses on the Apollo 13 insignia.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Another challenge is that sometimes DCF has to request police reports from another state and the information is not obtained in a timely manner, the DCF worker said.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This week, the 11-member Historic and Design Review Commission unanimously voted to issue a certificate of appropriateness for the second phase, an important requirement the city had to secure before applying for other permits and awarding a construction contract.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The update comes as rodeo outfits have drawn attention online, including viral social media videos debating the appropriateness of attire worn by some attendees.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In my life, up until that time, there had been a sense of decorum expected in the Presidential campaigns.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing to see here, although neither her lawyer nor her accountant’s name are known and when asked for such information, Omar can strike out with the decorum of a sailor on leave.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There have also been a few ransom notes linked to the case, though their validity still remains unclear at this time.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The family received numerous ransom notes since Nancy Guthrie was taken, and yet did not pay any ransom, which points to the police being unable to ascertain the validity of the notes or a lack of proof of life attached to them.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though an unabashedly liberal Democrat, Hart commanded respect from lawmakers of both parties for his intellect, decency and grit.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Aimee Lou Wood will host next week, and is no doubt planning to send up the American SNL‘s sketch about her last year, which many thought breached decency standards.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These factors reduce the applicability and appeal to venture-style funding.—
Samuel Mueller,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The research team also revealed that their strategy is a highly effective approach for improving not only the thermoelectric and mechanical performances of Ag2Se but also its applicability in curved or flexible energy harvesting devices.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
One that imposes a particular morality or one that imposes civil order?—
Charles F. Miller,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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