1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
the formal ball called for proper attire—tuxedos and full-length gowns only
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard
there is really more than one proper way to pronounce that word in English
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
we had nodded and said hello to one another but had never had a proper introduction
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation
you'll need to have a proper diet if you want to lose weight
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5
as in distinguishing
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
malaria and other diseases that are proper to the tropics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in appropriateness
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting
questioned the properness of having any curfew at all for people of college age
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of proper
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
Blaylock’s stance is that the grants aren’t the proper role of government.
—Audrey Dutton, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2025
Costa Rican officials have disputed reports by the country’s Ombudsman’s Office that the deportees arrived in Costa Rica in visible distress and that authorities failed to guarantee proper conditions for arriving deportees.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
With the proper care and guidance, finding what works for your skin can make all the difference in healing and regaining your confidence.
—Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Adjective
Friday night’s 123-114 overtime play-in victory in Atlanta, on top of Wednesday’s impressive must-win in Chicago, has saved a sinking season and sent Miami into the NBA playoffs proper, as a No. 8 seed facing No. 1 Cleveland in Game 1 Sunday in Ohio.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
Blaylock’s stance is that the grants aren’t the proper role of government.
—Audrey Dutton, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2025
Costa Rican officials have disputed reports by the country’s Ombudsman’s Office that the deportees arrived in Costa Rica in visible distress and that authorities failed to guarantee proper conditions for arriving deportees.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
With the proper care and guidance, finding what works for your skin can make all the difference in healing and regaining your confidence.
—Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proper
Adjective
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Wear old clothes and shoes Bring flashlights Watch for sharp objects Avoid food waste Wash your hands Be polite and cooperate if you are asked to leave The Fresno Bee 559-441-6005 Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter.—
Fernanda Galan,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Which felt like a polite way of saying the same thing.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Ars Technica: Your AI take is that neither the dystopian view of sentient AI or the utopian view is necessarily correct.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
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Roth was correct as the rain didn’t start for more than 90 minutes, which seemingly would have given the Royals and Rockies a chance to get a good chunk of the game played.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Or there may be mentorship programs integrated but no formal training mechanisms in place, causing a lack of awareness and understanding, thus leading to unchecked bias and inequities in workplace systems.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Snag casual frocks and formal gowns in floral patterns and pastel hues, with prices starting at $25.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There is no one right way to teach literacy in a developmentally appropriate, balanced literacy framework.—
K. Dara Hill,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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The agency publicly announces the results of operations when appropriate.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The surgery was difficult due to Bolsonaro’s prior surgeries and stab wound, but Sunday’s procedure did not have unexpected complications and the result was satisfactory, doctors said, adding that hospital visits for now should be limited to family.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
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According to the complaint, Combs allegedly said the act wasn’t satisfactory and threatened Doe with violence afterward.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Emily DeLetter,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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These speculations proved accurate when, on the second night of WrestleMania 41, Lynch was revealed as the mystery partner of Women's Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria in a tag team title match against the then-champions, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And the honeycomb design isn’t just nice on the eyes.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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It’s made of a tarp-like material that feels pretty durable and the lid zippers, which is nice to contain smells.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Midsize electric grills suitable for indoor/outdoor use are generally between 26-34 inches wide and can fit at least 10 burgers at a time.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
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This intelligent filtering ensures that only the most suitable candidates proceed to interviews, significantly accelerating recruitment cycles and reducing biases. 4.—
Tarun Eldho Alias,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proper. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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