1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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
This new way to communicate without speaking allowed exchanging parties to bypass propriety and social expectations.
—Essence, 28 Sep. 2024
There was more privacy back then, a certain propriety and distance that people gave one another.
—Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propriety 
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
This new way to communicate without speaking allowed exchanging parties to bypass propriety and social expectations.
—Essence, 28 Sep. 2024
There was more privacy back then, a certain propriety and distance that people gave one another.
—Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
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Meanwhile, etiquette experts suggest that while asking about ingredients for allergy reasons is acceptable, demanding a full recipe crosses a line.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
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Dear Life Kit is NPR's advice column, where experts answer tricky questions about relationships, social etiquette, work culture and more.—
Becky Harlan,
NPR,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And so the manner of death — suicide or homicide — remained an open question.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Jan. 2025
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His cause and manner of death will be released by the medical examiner.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Robbie Hoy said the video taken of the altercation shows that deputies did not assault anyone in their attempt to maintain decorum at the commissioners court.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2025
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Longshore described what was ultimately a performance piece captured on video as peeling back layers of social conditioning—first decorum, then guilt, and then, inevitably, greed.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Recently, it was revealed that Tommy Zeigler, who spent 48 years on Florida’s death row, may be exonerated thanks to new DNA evidence that challenges the validity of his 1976 conviction.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2025
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However, that paper was retracted because of undeclared competing interests on the part of the author and concerns about the validity of the methods and statistical analysis.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately, not everyone is able to make a distinction between a person’s politics and their basic human decency.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
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That sense of love leaves her willing to do anything within the realm of reason and human decency for her partner — but naturally, that’s not good enough for the kind of guy who seriously considers investing in an android lover.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Treating our team members well is a matter of morality.—
Stephanie Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
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Melissa Wheeler explores leadership challenges for the future of work, including AI and innovation, flexible work, and morality at work.—
Melissa A. Wheeler,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As an example of its relevance to AMC, RealD 3D generated $145 million of AMC’s domestic box office in 2024.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
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The startup’s focus on delivering open-source, cost-effective models compels other tech entities to either match its pricing or enhance product offerings to maintain relevance in the fast-evolving AI market.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That prudence paid off earlier this week when China’s DeepSeek unveiled its free AI open-source technology.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2025
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For decades afterward, the 1984 defeat revived Liberal prudence: Don’t overdo things.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near propriety
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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