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Definitions

propriety

[pruh-prahy-i-tee] / prəˈpraɪ ɪ ti /
NOUN
suitableness, appropriateness
Synonyms
STRONGEST
correctness decorum legitimacy morality rectitude respectability suitability
STRONG
accordance advisability agreeableness appositeness aptness becomingness compatibility concord congruity consonance convenience correspondence expedience fitness harmony justice order pleasantness properness rightness seemliness
WEAK
ethicality meetness recommendability
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dishonesty
STRONG
disagreement discord incompatibility lawlessness unsuitability
WEAK
bad manners immorality impropriety inappropriateness misbehavior misconduct unsuitableness wrong
NOUN
good manners
Synonyms
STRONGEST
correctness decency decorum dignity modesty rectitude respectability
STRONG
amenities breeding civilities courtesy delicacy etiquette mores niceties politeness politesse protocol punctilio refinement seemliness
WEAK
accepted conduct good behavior good form rules of conduct social conventions social grace the done thing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
impropriety indecency
STRONG
bad manners crudeness impoliteness rudeness
WEAK
immorality inappropriateness misbehavior misconduct unsuitableness wrong

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said "that's true" when asked whether he had "informally" raised the now deputy prime minister's conduct with the Propriety and Ethics Team in the Cabinet Office.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2022

Propriety and protocol prevented us from exchanging a single word.

From The Guardian • Mar. 19, 2017

And how can the Radchaai reconcile their values of “Justice, Propriety, and Benefit” with their legacy of slavery and exploitation?

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2015

Propriety demanded she let it go to voice mail.

From BusinessWeek • Aug. 1, 2013

Propriety and sympathy of costume go very far indeed to establish and augment the estimation of printed volumes with manuscript tokens of former proprietorship.

From The Book-Collector A General Survey of the Pursuit and of those who have engaged in it at Home and Abroad from the Earliest Period to the Present Time by Hazlitt, William Carew

Vocabulary lists containing propriety

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Esperanza Rising

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