PROPRIETY Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

propriety

noun

prə-ˈprī-ə-tē

Definition of propriety

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

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

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

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 propriety But as this debate over propriety unfolds, a dedicated swath of the Democratic base is delighted. — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026 All about that plane When Qatar gave the Boeing 747, fit for an Emirate prince, to Trump last year, some observers voiced concerns, both on grounds of security and propriety. — David Folkenflik, NPR, 23 July 2026 Some are in-house, propriety applications developed by larger companies. — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The second agreement precludes the Justice Department or any other federal agency from investigating the propriety of that funding. — Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for propriety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety

Noun

By the Victorian era, particularly following Prince Albert’s death in 1861 and Queen Victoria’s subsequent four decades in mourning, bereavement had evolved into an elaborate system of social etiquette.

— Livia Caligor, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
And there would have been girls rebelling against social etiquette back then, like, there would now.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of etiquette

Noun

Containerized units support flexible replacement The batteries’ containerized format allows them to be handled and stowed in the same manner as standard cargo containers.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Jeon is marvelous in the role, allowing flashes of envy, resentment, and longing to surface beneath Mi-ok’s cheerful, accommodating manner without diminishing her warmth or loyalty.

— Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of manner

Noun

And if there is a credible question about a speaker’s appropriateness, the library should investigate and act rationally based on actual evidence.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
As many as 11 sketches were removed, including a self-referential skit in which David Mitchell and Robert Webb joked about the appropriateness of Blackface while in Blackface.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of appropriateness

Noun

The blunderbuss of violations of the basic decorum and dignity of democracy have become such a daily matter that the increasingly familiar response is to sigh and surrender.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
However, her choice of a plainer variety for Monday’s festivities fit with the occasion’s decorum.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of decorum

Noun

The latter predicts a single universe by denying the universal validity of Schrödinger’s equation.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
According to the court, while NetChoice could challenge the validity of the Georgia law, the group had not sufficiently argued that enforcement of the law would be unconstitutional.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of validity

Noun

In making determinations, the office considers general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 26 Oct. 2026
But Americans have always expected basic decency from candidates seeking to represent their interests.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decency

Noun

The general applicability became clear over the subsequent years.

— Karl Deisseroth, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
There is a broad debate over the applicability of PNB to modern anti-trust cases, with many legal scholars finding the application of a random number, without any real analysis of the potential harm a merger might cause, to be a fatal flaw.

— Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of applicability

Browse Nearby Words

proprietorships

propriety

props

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of propriety

noun

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