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
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
Some critics deemed the set an act of heresy, an affront to folk music propriety.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 16 Jan. 2025
Expect trendy shoes from Good American like a denim pointed-toe slingback or even a ballet flat in crocodile, largely treated with their propriety On Cloud sole designed for comfort.
—Mikelle Street, Them, 26 Nov. 2024
From professional oversight to social propriety, the pedometer served as a subtle but powerful mediator, quantifying life in ways that both reflected and challenged evolving norms of individual accountability and public transparency.
—Jacqueline D. Wernimont, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
With the Supreme Court having taken the flag’s mistreatment out of the legal realm more than three decades ago, questions of flag-display propriety shift instead to the world of norms, Magarian said.
—Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 23 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for propriety
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 16 Jan. 2025
Expect trendy shoes from Good American like a denim pointed-toe slingback or even a ballet flat in crocodile, largely treated with their propriety On Cloud sole designed for comfort.
—Mikelle Street, Them, 26 Nov. 2024
From professional oversight to social propriety, the pedometer served as a subtle but powerful mediator, quantifying life in ways that both reflected and challenged evolving norms of individual accountability and public transparency.
—Jacqueline D. Wernimont, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
With the Supreme Court having taken the flag’s mistreatment out of the legal realm more than three decades ago, questions of flag-display propriety shift instead to the world of norms, Magarian said.
—Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 23 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
Trump’s election has only solidified the new legal framework for what is permissible when considering race and gender in hiring, promotion, and workplace etiquette.—
Casey Harper | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Plane etiquette seems so simple — be spatially aware, don’t bother other passengers and follow the instructions of the air crew.—
Bella Stoddart,Monica Pitrelli,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The EDAs can enhance identity management in the following manner: • Automated Workflows: SCIM offers a protocol to automate workflows to handle identity changes through the integration of service providers and identity providers.—
Ravi Laudya,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Palm trees, like Angelenos, can go on forever, in one manner or another.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Others try to maintain decorum by long-striding into the queue.—
Nick Robins-Early,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The lack of empathy, the lack of decorum — using profanity at a press conference — and to politicize a tragedy is really unconscionable.—
Curtis Bunn,
NBC News,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Dominick’s Cicero Voters Alliance, however, questioned the validity of Rodriguez’s account in a statement.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
-
However, Ador has filed two injunctions in South Korean courts, one in December to confirm the validity of the group’s contracts and another in January to stop the group from independently signing advertisement contracts, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
How could Joe Biden and Kamala Harris convince us of their decency and ethical fortitude when their Administration wouldn’t even allow a Palestinian American to speak at the Democratic National Convention?—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Because this much is for certain: the backlash to this sick barrage of attacks on human decency and American normalcy is building quickly and will be fierce.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Both Ford and Mirren warn that Whitfield’s endless means and lack of morality will continue to bring a different kind of beast to the Duttons’ doorstep.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
The morality of being a missileer – and minister David Feddern was also a missileer here in Echo-01.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Authenticity and relevance should be at the core of your strategy to ensure a seamless brand integration.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
With annual rollouts and minimal year-to-year change, the average title seldom maintains cultural relevance past the year it was published.—
Justice delos Santos,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Looking Ahead Like previous iterations, this year’s letter highlighted Berkshire’s ability to adapt to changing economic conditions while sticking to its core principles of value investing and financial prudence.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Lamont is expected to call for Connecticut to maintain its fiscal prudence balanced with strategic investments in various programs.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share