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.

For more formal occasions, there is a dining room located just off the living room.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 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

Kindergarten readiness encompasses the foundational skills necessary to engage in a more formal learning environment, said Ohio State University educational psychology professor Laura Justice.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Level of style won’t help you here: unlike the alternatives set apart by other pseudo-rules in the oral tradition, neither which nor that is more formal than the other. verbing and other neologisms.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker