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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propriety
Kay also challenged the propriety of statements made by the prosecutor during her closing arguments.
—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.
—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Her wealthy new family refuses to extend any of their access or connections to Annie; to them, friendship is nowhere near as important as propriety.
—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.
—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Her wealthy new family refuses to extend any of their access or connections to Annie; to them, friendship is nowhere near as important as propriety.
—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
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Setting aside the question of whether any secondhand store would even want it, what is the appropriate etiquette?
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What is summer wedding guest nail color etiquette, or the best nail colors that will give your hands that glowy tan?
Noun
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But even here, where the damage is being done gleefully and wantonly, the US Congress has stood up to these funding cuts in a bipartisan manner.
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The platform should be structured in a manner that is intuitive, engaging and easy to navigate, enabling employees to quickly locate relevant information and resources.
Noun
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Genuine results are derived from the ability to assess and influence real-time payment decisions regarding appropriateness and alignment with actual costs of care.
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On April 14, after the presentation and discussion, the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project but with conditions and limitations.
Noun
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The laws regulating habitual drunkards were intended not to protect the general public against serious danger, but to protect civil order and decorum.
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But despite Clark’s wrongdoings on and off the course, the decorum of being a golf patron, especially at a major championship, is paramount.
Noun
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Universities are built to think carefully about consequences, to weigh ethics, validity, unintended effects and long-term implications.
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Maybe there's validity to the idea that every loss doesn't need to be a lesson.
Noun
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And yet as cynical and beaten-down as the film’s viewpoint can often be, there is still a spark of decency and perseverance.
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This is not simply a matter of policy, but of basic human decency.
Noun
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Set that against Microsoft's research mapping AI applicability across occupations, which scores knowledge and information work highest and physical labor lowest, and an unnerving pattern surfaces.
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Still, the study's large sample size -- more than 11,000 participants -- and diverse participant population may help strengthen the findings and their applicability across different groups.
Noun
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The 22-year-old died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s mandatory hijab rules, The National reported.
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Marjane depicts our terrifying teachers, the violent morality police and our collective and perpetual fear that we might be caught, hurt, arrested, killed.
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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