1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
the formal ball called for proper attire—tuxedos and full-length gowns only
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard
there is really more than one proper way to pronounce that word in English
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
we had nodded and said hello to one another but had never had a proper introduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation
you'll need to have a proper diet if you want to lose weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in characteristic
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
malaria and other diseases that are proper to the tropics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of proper
Nearly 40% of data center operators surveyed by the Uptime Institute in 2022 experienced an outage caused by human error, mostly from employees not following proper procedure.
—
Thomas Berndorfer,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Joe Deviney, agricultural commissioner for Marin County, said Costco asked his office Thursday morning to inspect the plants, even though the shipment, which required inspection, did not have proper inspection paperwork upon arrival at the retailer.
—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Fox gave attorneys for the Democrat-Gazette until July 6 to file a brief about whether Pulaski County Circuit Court is the proper place to hear the case.
—
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2026
Filing a secondary service connection claim with proper documentation is the necessary first step toward coverage.
—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proper
Thomas Berndorfer,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Joe Deviney, agricultural commissioner for Marin County, said Costco asked his office Thursday morning to inspect the plants, even though the shipment, which required inspection, did not have proper inspection paperwork upon arrival at the retailer.
—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Fox gave attorneys for the Democrat-Gazette until July 6 to file a brief about whether Pulaski County Circuit Court is the proper place to hear the case.
—
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2026
Filing a secondary service connection claim with proper documentation is the necessary first step toward coverage.
—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proper
Adjective
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The result is a chain of polite, yet simultaneously radical buildings with an exciting contour resembling a mountainous landscape – adding ‘bergen’ in De Bergen!
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Then, when regular channels deny your claim, send a polite, concise email to the company’s executives.
Adjective
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Jevremovic sued him for defamation in December but a judge threw out the case, citing that it hadn’t been filed in the correct jurisdiction.
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Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.
Adjective
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Fireworks from formal rocket shows to impromptu street celebrations can create extremely unhealthy air quality, sometimes rivaling what comes from wildfires.
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The impression was bolstered Friday afternoon when dozens of A-list celebrities were seen heading into the venue in formal wear, from Karlie Kloss and Hugh Grant to Jason Sudeikis and Chris Jones.
Adjective
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Parton’s Imagination Library mails free, age-appropriate books every month to children from birth to age five.
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Recent policies that State Shield has supported include a Tennessee bill requiring the state board of education to adopt age-appropriate instruction related to communism and a Louisiana resolution encouraging economic ties with Taiwan.
Adjective
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In the photos, Blondeau is seen in her characteristic bun adorned with flowers and white cape-overlay gown, holding a calla lily bouquet.
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As radio waves travel across the universe, interstellar gas muddies them, generating a characteristic delay in the signal that depends on frequency.
Adjective
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Kelley said the company believed the existing easement was satisfactory and wasn’t told otherwise until after investing years of work on he project.
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For writing, editing, spreadsheets, email, and web browsing, performance proved entirely satisfactory.
Adjective
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Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
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Television executives say those viewers have always been watching at bars, restaurants and other locations, so now the ratings are a more accurate reflection of the real audience size.
Adjective
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Neither side has been shy of attacking, which has been a nice change of pace compared with the first couple of knockout stage matches.
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Been shooting some nice low scores in these last couple weeks outs here, so that’s something good to pat myself on the back.
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proper. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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