as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an improper use of slang in a formal piece of writing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 improper
The inspector also noticed dirty equipment and improper food cooling methods.
—
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
In 2019, Leonard and his associates, primarily his uncle Dennis Robertson, allegedly made improper appeals to teams during the small forward's free agency.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
In that appeal, prosecutors are asking the Supreme Court to give them permission to appeal the order for a new trial, which prosecutors contend was improper.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
However, there’s one critical aspect that most startups tend to overlook—the high rate of failure due to improper data governance.
—Jagadish Gokavarapu, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for improper
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
In 2019, Leonard and his associates, primarily his uncle Dennis Robertson, allegedly made improper appeals to teams during the small forward's free agency.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
In that appeal, prosecutors are asking the Supreme Court to give them permission to appeal the order for a new trial, which prosecutors contend was improper.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
However, there’s one critical aspect that most startups tend to overlook—the high rate of failure due to improper data governance.
—Jagadish Gokavarapu, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for improper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improper
Adjective
-
Some of my friends were pressured to send inappropriate pictures, contacted by strangers, and exposed to content way beyond our age.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Businesses/nominees cannot obtain votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The concern expressed is that people are turning to AI for mental health advice and do not realize that (presumably) AI is unsuitable for that purpose.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The drastic drop in performance from the 2022 season points to the idea that the current generation of cars is unsuitable for the Briton.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This approach is unreliable because the proxy materials, like volcanic rock, might have been changed by geological processes or created long after the eggs were laid, resulting in incorrect age estimates.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Poor labor management can also result in longer wait times, incorrect orders and ultimately negative reviews, directly impacting revenue.—
Jeff Kiesel,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Using the wrong type of cleaning product for your tub's material can result in scratches, discoloration, or chips.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Scotsman Robert MacIntyre was pleased to have made the cut with a birdie on the last on Friday evening but when a rare second cut was made to shorten the field for the final day, the 29-year-old from Oban was on the wrong side of the line when finishing 2 under par.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lee would sometimes visit Anderson at the Highland Chateau health and rehabilitation center in Highland Park, where she had been relocated with some objection after her Surrey Avenue property was deemed unfit for human habitation.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Detroit RUNDetroit, 1948 Division St Suite 105, collects old shoes for Zaman International, who will reporpose gently used pairs or recycle unfit shoes, according to RUNDetroit's Instagram.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
My research team works hard to keep the email addresses up to date, but executives keep changing their addresses to avoid having to deal with unhappy customers.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But few seemed to leave unhappy.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Improper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improper. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share