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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

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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
  • Giving cash doesn’t have to be awkward Despite popular convention that cash presents are gauche, tacky, or uninspired, Post says the annals of etiquette wisdom permit monetary gifts.
    Allie Volpe, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024
  • What to Do Before an Estate Sale Familiarize Yourself with the Rules Sometimes, a little research ahead of time can save you from an embarrassing—and likely unintentional—etiquette faux pas.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • For a group of young men with a lethal stage presence, their private personas are marked by gentleness, always leading with manners, and respect.
    Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The Treasury Secretary was directed to develop a plan to end the conservatorship, facilitate competition in housing finance, operate the GSEs in a safe and sound manner, and ensure the government is properly compensated for any backing.
    Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • That balance of decorum and mischief was classic Smith.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024
  • 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
Noun
  • In 2016, Smith questioned the validity of a lawsuit filed by an LGBT rights group in North Carolina over a state law that aimed to restrict transgender people from using the bathrooms of their preferred gender during an episode on his ESPN Radio show.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • The Nebraska Examiner reported that District Judge Susan Strong from Nebraska's Lancaster County District Court is yet to decide on a court case determining the validity of signatures on the petitions provided to put the measures on Nebraska's ballot.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Hanks’s innate decency plays a part in several films, but it’s delivered in a different way in this underrated Cold War drama.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
  • No understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Protests erupted across Iran in 2022 against the dress code following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in the custody of the morality police after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
  • No Country for Old Men (2007) — A tense thriller set in Texas, exploring themes of morality and the impact of violence.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The collaboration was founded upon the idea of introducing contemporary elements that continue Fortuny’s relevance in today’s design landscape, Riad explained, adding that Minassian was a perfect fit for the project.
    Sofia Celeste, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Combat sports have experienced a renaissance of cultural relevance over the past decade, driven by legalized betting and the popularity of MMA.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 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 30 Nov. 2024.

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