IMPROPRIETY Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words

impropriety

noun

ˌim-p(r)ə-ˈprī-ə-tē

Definition of impropriety

as in unfitness

the quality or state of not being socially proper the impropriety of the song that the campers sang for the visitors was embarrassing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mistake

a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark such improprieties as asking people how much money they make

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wrongness

the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting I see no impropriety in referring to certain anatomical parts by their standard names

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 impropriety The mere appearance of potential impropriety is what all judges are supposed to be avoiding, said David Weber, director of the sports law institute at the University of Oregon. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 9 June 2026 They haven’t been accused of any impropriety themselves, but their father, Andrew, was arrested for suspicion of misconduct in public office, and their mother, Fergie, featured heavily in the Epstein files. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 18 May 2026 County Clerk Anthony Vega said in an interview on Wednesday that his office has the necessary sophisticated equipment to discern voting improprieties. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 Three departures and allegations of impropriety against four leaders of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system have eroded trust and raised questions about the system’s leadership going forward. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for impropriety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impropriety

Noun

Musk attempted to color Altman as a uniquely unsuitable supervisor of this technology, but this invariably invited further scrutiny into his own abject unfitness for the role.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
The real issue is Alvero’s unfitness for his office.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of unfitness

Noun

Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
The scribe carefully inscribed each line with a quill made from a goose feather, while their other hand wielded an erasing knife used to sharpen the quill and scrape away any mistakes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

No disrespect to Meredith Marks, of course, but this Bravo DJ epidemic has gotten out of control.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Managers frequently mistake flexibility for a weak work ethic, mental health discussions for fragility, transparency for disrespect, and feedback requests for neediness.

— Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of disrespect

Noun

Sometimes this was committed to good, such as the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps, and sometimes to ill, as in a series of military blunders meant to quash godless Communism.

— Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

That, however, is nothing now compared to the far larger incorrectness of the rulers of a significant number of the most powerful nations on earth.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Their sly and winning songwriting deftly embraced more than a wink-wink, nudge-nudge of shrewd parody and unabashed social incorrectness.

— Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026

Definition of incorrectness

Noun

Eventually, Batula moved past Cooke’s indiscretions and married him in 2021.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 29 June 2026
History is littered with the careers of politicians who committed crimes or engaged in moral indiscretions and then tried to lie their way out of public shame.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026

Definition of indiscretion

Browse Nearby Words

improprieties

impropriety

improv

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Style

“Impropriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impropriety. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of impropriety

noun

Example Sentences

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