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
Tim’s whole life has been rooted in propriety, but this trip seems to be changing him.
—
Noel Murray, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Ginny, their passive-aggressive control freak of a mother, will not admit into her home any problems, doubts or identities that violate her sense of upbeat Christian propriety.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
This version of Evangelina—the one that’s the picture of propriety —is the one that has endured until now.
—Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025
Ibsen was exploding bourgeois hypocrisy by cramming his plot with taboos, then asserting that the greatest sin was the propriety that kept people from speaking frankly and living freely.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Noel Murray, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Ginny, their passive-aggressive control freak of a mother, will not admit into her home any problems, doubts or identities that violate her sense of upbeat Christian propriety.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
This version of Evangelina—the one that’s the picture of propriety —is the one that has endured until now.
—Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025
Ibsen was exploding bourgeois hypocrisy by cramming his plot with taboos, then asserting that the greatest sin was the propriety that kept people from speaking frankly and living freely.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
Understanding communication styles, business etiquette and decision-making processes in various regions enhances collaboration.—
Shirin Ali,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Figuring out how to show up well in in-person meetings, especially as a new hire and even more so as a junior employee, can be tough, says Daniel Post Senning, etiquette expert with the Emily Post Institute.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Investigators have not yet publicly released a positive identification or details regarding the cause or manner of death.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
-
An etiquette expert and the author of a new book about manners is causing plenty of online chatter about the proper way to eat a banana and other common handheld foods.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The sea goat is demure and responsible and maintains decorum under pressure.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
The event itself was mostly a matter of decorum, an opportunity for Adelman to replace the usual quarter-zip with a black suit and tie while issuing his mission statement.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Even at centers where funds appear to have led to considerable research output, internal strife calls into question the validity of their work.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
-
The White House statement also questions the validity of the pardons and commutations issued by Biden—especially his commutation of the sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row—echoing another Trump claim.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Who truly believes in human dignity and decency these days?—
Susan Miller,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
-
This is not only a devastating loss for their families, but also for the Jewish people, and for all who care about human decency and justice.—
Laurence Milstein,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
From the moment the book was announced, many commentators have questioned the morality of her estate and publisher profiting off such intensely private and essentially medical documents.—
Evelyn McDonnell
June 5,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
-
More to Explore Gamification, Then and Now Livia Gershon March 20, 2017 Nineteenth-century board games help to map public morality, from religious virtue to upward mobility.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
This enables value in relevance, recognition and relationship.—
Zsuzsa Kecsmar,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
-
Beyond its military relevance, the area is recognized as the first landing place of Africans in the U.S. in 1619.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
Waugh: Fundamentally, Newcastle want to significantly bolster Howe’s squad while maintaining financial prudence.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
-
The path forward will necessitate not only compassion but also prudence—and a firm grasp of the limits of what even a generous nation can achieve.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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