more formal

ADJECTIVE

established, orderly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

academic ceremonial explicit legal precise proper solemn strict

STRONG

express official regular ritual set

WEAK

approved ceremonialistic ceremonious confirmed conventional decorous directed fixed formalistic lawful methodical prescribed pro forma punctilious rigid ritualistic stately stereotyped stereotypical systematic

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous inaccurate indefinite ordinary

WEAK

customary disorderly informal normal relaxed unaffected

ADJECTIVE

stiff, affected, correct

Synonyms

STRONGEST

polite precise

STRONG

nominal

WEAK

aloof by the numbers ceremonious conventional decorous distant exact playing the game prim punctilious reserved seemly sententious starched stilted straight arrow stuffy unbending

Antonyms

WEAK

customary disorderly informal normal relaxed unaffected

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.

Testifying at a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Hegseth was asked: “When can you share more formal accounting on the cost of the war with Congress and with this committee?”

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

"The two countries have a long history of backchannel dialogues," Markey notes, "and these have at times been effective ways to mitigate hostility and even to set the stage for more formal dialogues."

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Instead, he gave a marginally more formal “update” about progress in Iran than he gives all day on social media or in quick press availabilities.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

It is still too early to say whether there will be a more formal system for ships to seek guidance on whether they can cross the Strait of Hormuz, maritime analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

“We are the king’s advisers, or, in more formal terms, his cabinet.”

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster