1
as in tidy
being clean and in good order
behind the bed-and-breakfast is a prim little garden where guests are served afternoon tea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in Victorian
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals
a very prim and proper matron was in charge of the girls' dorm
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 prim
Just an hour outside New York City lies a prim and proper Colonial compound steeped in history.
—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Split the difference in your own pair with a prim, preppy jacket, luxe snakeskin flats, and chic gold jewelry; you’re all set for a fancy dinner or happy hour.
—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Ringwald’s prim, disciplined portrayal adds just the right touch of endearing spunkiness, while McCarthy, fighting with his social demons, is a likable rich kid with character substance.
—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley.
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prim
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Split the difference in your own pair with a prim, preppy jacket, luxe snakeskin flats, and chic gold jewelry; you’re all set for a fancy dinner or happy hour.
—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Ringwald’s prim, disciplined portrayal adds just the right touch of endearing spunkiness, while McCarthy, fighting with his social demons, is a likable rich kid with character substance.
—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley.
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prim
Adjective
-
Start with a tidy desk and a glass of water, then batch related tasks so your focus stays strong through the afternoon.
-
So a corporate statement or a recruiting slogan or a tidy values page doesn't automatically carry weight with a Gen Z candidate.
Adjective
-
The Sherlock Holmes series adds a touch of Victorian charm with rich wood paneling, brass accents, and cozy reading nooks perfect for sleuthing through your own novels.
-
In the 2001 episode shot above Times Square, the poet Michael Stipe sits regal in a Victorian skirt and peppers Automatic for the People and Reveal songs with a rant about George Bush’s nuclear energy policy.
Adjective
-
Between the scalloped trim, playful print, and comfy fit, this statement-making two-piece was a no-brainer for my trip.
-
The away uniform is yellow with turquoise, pink, and orange trim, inspired by the historic, colorful architecture of downtown Willemstad.
Adjective
-
She’s been attacked, her puritanical sister has landed from America, and murder is starting to feel less like a paranoid theory than a reasonable working assumption.
-
Perhaps because of its puritanical roots, any place that serves alcohol in Boston also has to have a full menu—so there aren’t straight-up bars here or anywhere else.
Adjective
-
This is a great whiskey to sip neat, but the brand also recommends trying it in an Old Fashioned.
-
Several other Dolphins also have stood atop all of their peers in something neat, at some point.
Adjective
-
Across its 55,000-square-foot footprint, the $24 million building is composed of a learning center and classrooms, company orderly rooms, battalion planning space and secure equipment storage — and carries a plaque honoring the state’s 30th governor.
-
That system has allowed plans to be widely circulated for public input, and for the leasing, permitting, and administration of plans to be predictable and orderly.
Cite this Entry
“Prim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prim. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
