1
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

Examples 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 Victorian dress was rife with symbolism and evolved around rigid codes of propriety and caste. Emili Vesilind, CNN, 17 Sep. 2024 Eating has become less deferential to propriety and more tuned to personal pleasure: Meals may require us to set the table, make concessions to what our companions want, and at least gesture at balance; snacks, generally, do not. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2024 Over the years, the predictions have incorporated the use of modern technology into the propriety strategies used since the publication of the first issue in the 18th century. Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024 This was the act of someone with no propriety, no limitations, and no conscience. Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for propriety 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propriety
Noun
  • The program focuses on college readiness, etiquette, public speaking, financial responsibility and mental health awareness, among other skills.
    Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • The Regency era dates back to the early 1800s in England and was the pinnacle of high society, extravagance, and strict etiquette.
    Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Apparently, my daughter didn’t finish all of the food on her plate, and the mom felt that was incredibly rude and a sign of poor manners.
    Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Ukraine has every right to defend itself in this manner, and there is no indication that Ukrainian forces would intentionally target nuclear warhead storage sites.
    William M. Moon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • In The Kitchen, Wesker tracked the decorum from friendly badinage to hostile vernacular that co-workers sustain just to get through the day.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 Oct. 2024
  • At the top of the debate, CBS moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan could mute the mics to maintain decorum.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Both have been scrutinized over signature validity.
    Zack Huffman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Trump and his allies spread falsehoods about the validity of the vote count in Detroit in 2020.
    Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Leah tells us about the lone woman who advocated for helping them, declaring that each one was someone’s son and deserved a bit of human decency.
    Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
  • This may be glorified B-movie material about Honor and Sacrifice and American Know-How, but Hanks’s decency and quiet authority sell the damn thing very nicely. 23.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The security agents who enforce hijab laws, informally called morality police, have recently started easing public confrontations with women over the headscarves, following the election of reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian who campaigned on opposing these police patrols.
    Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Incorporating a mixture of bodycam, dash-camera, and cellphone footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • But for a franchise that has lagged behind its rivals for decades, a win could finally signal an era of relevance.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Judges are looking for relevance to neuroscience, creativity, accurate interpretation of data and quality of the research report.
    Kristen Moon, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • What Are The Candidates Missing? Healthcare spending has ballooned to levels that defy fiscal prudence, but healthcare dollars aren’t going to the people who provide it.
    Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
  • The market may have wanted a more upbeat outlook for 2025 to support analysts’ projections of low-double-digit percentage earnings growth, but Danaher is known for its conservatism and prudence regarding forward guidance.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near propriety

Cite this Entry

“Propriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propriety. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on propriety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!