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
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
Andrews' nuanced design of P.L. Travers' creation is an astute, mellifluous, and delightfully intimidating creature of talent and propriety — and as the world would realize, so, too, was Andrews.
—
Ew Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Here, Gomez speaks with Variety about the propriety of the FCC’s actions and the potential harm that may come to broadcast journalism.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
But Musk is operating in the wide open, where everyone can see and judge for themselves the propriety of his place beside the president.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
That summer, the brand showcased its propriety Guess Airwash technology developed with Jeanologia at department store popups in Paris and Milan.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Ew Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Here, Gomez speaks with Variety about the propriety of the FCC’s actions and the potential harm that may come to broadcast journalism.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
But Musk is operating in the wide open, where everyone can see and judge for themselves the propriety of his place beside the president.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
That summer, the brand showcased its propriety Guess Airwash technology developed with Jeanologia at department store popups in Paris and Milan.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for propriety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
-
There's another group of passengers who should never remove their shoes, said Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette expert.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Jo Hayes is an etiquette expert, consultant, and the founder of Etiquette Expert.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Only a few of the artists attempt to perform the songs in the uniquely laidback manner in which Velvet originally did them.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
12 Apr. 2025
-
The fight essentially played out in that manner.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There is a time for decorum and there is a time to speak truth in a way that gets attention.—
Letters to the editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Moreover, his juvenile grandstanding behavior reflects poorly on District 10, which covers parts of Orlando and surrounding areas, a region that expects its leaders to uphold a certain standard of decorum.—
Lou Marin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Judge’s ruling blocking Trump deportations is invalid, argues WSJ column: Dan Huff interview Dan Huff, Senior Fellow at American Path Initiative, elaborates on his recent op-ed that challenges the validity of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg’s deportation order.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
-
This type of setting could have helped even the most intransigent of scholars realize that reports of Khmer Rouge atrocities likely had validity.—
Ray Cavanaugh,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His public defense team, led by Anne Taylor, has tried — to no avail — to remove capital punishment as a sentencing option, arguing that the death penalty is unconstitutional, breaks with evolving standards of decency and is arbitrarily applied.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Mar. 2025
-
How it got expressed in Tony was not sharp elbows, but a boundless, Midwestern good nature, and decency.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Approval from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, much like the morality police, requires artists to master abstraction, ensuring their work remains powerful yet permissible.—
Rebecca Ruth Gould,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
-
An anti-Disney morality tale seeks modern morality.—
Armond White,
National Review,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Both brands of course are staples of Hollywood fashion, outfitting stars on red carpets, debuting new pieces at fashion shows and leveraging the fame and fortune of the entertainment business to propel their own cultural relevance around the globe.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
His arrival sent shockwaves through collegiate sports, bringing unprecedented attention to a program that had struggled for relevance.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Otherwise, there needs to be prudence, since the Heat are poised to potentially get back in the cap-space race in the 2026 offseason, when the contracts of Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier come off the books.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
-
What critics of interventionism have historically sought is prudence in foreign affairs—avoiding unnecessary wars while ensuring the protection of core national interests.—
Andrew Latham,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share