What is another word for proper?
Synonyms for proper
ˈprɒp ərprop·er
This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word proper.
Wiktionary
properadjective
Suitable.
Synonyms:
right, sensible, correct, apt, fitting, prudentAntonyms:
wrong, imprudent, bad, incorrect, insensibleproperadjective
Synonyms:
appropriate, decent, right, good, well-mannered, politeAntonyms:
wrong, bad, ill-mannered, inappropriate, impolite, unseemly, indecentproperadjective
Synonyms:
honorable, just, appropriateAntonyms:
inappropriate, dishonorable, unjustproperadjective
Synonyms:
sweeping, comprehensive, royal, intensiveAntonyms:
slapdash, partial, incomplete, superficialproperadjective
Antonyms:
incompleteproperadjective
English Synonyms and Antonyms
proper
That is becoming in dress which suits the complexion, figure, and other qualities of the wearer, so as to produce on the whole a pleasing effect. That is decent which does not offend modesty or propriety. That is suitable which is adapted to the age, station, situation, and other circumstances of the wearer; coarse, heavy boots are suitable for farm-work; a juvenile style of dress is not suitable for an old lady. In conduct much the same rules apply. The dignity and gravity of a patriarch would not be becoming to a child; at a funeral lively, cheery sociability would not be decorous, while noisy hilarity would not be decent; sumptuous display would not be suitable for a poor person. Fit is a compendious term for whatever fits the person, time, place, occasion, etc.; as, a fit person; a fit abode; a fit place. Fitting, or befitting, is somewhat more elegant, implying a nicer adaptation. Meet, a somewhat archaic word, expresses a moral fitness; as, meet for heaven. Compare BEAUTIFUL.
Synonyms:
becoming, befitting, beseeming, comely, congruous, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, graceful, meet, neat, seemly, suitable, worthyAntonyms:
awkward, ill-becoming, ill-fitting, improper, indecent, indecorous, unbecoming, unfit, unseemly, unsuitablePreposition:
The dress was becoming to the wearer. Such conduct was becoming in him.
Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms
proper
Synonyms:
peculiar, appertinent, personal, own, constitutional, special, befitting, adapted, suited, suitable, appropriate, just, fair, equitable, right, decent, becoming, fitAntonyms:
common, inappertinent, alien, universal, nonspecial, unbefitting, unadapted, unsuited, unsuitable, inappropriate, wrong, indecent, unbecoming, improper
Princeton's WordNet
properadjective
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
"proper medical treatment"; "proper manners"
Synonyms:
proper(a), right, proper(ip)Antonyms:
indecent, out-of-the-way, unseemly, inappropriate, untoward, general, unbecoming, wrong, indecorous, uncomely, nonspecific, incorrect, unreal, improperproper(a)adjective
having all the qualities typical of the thing specified
"wanted a proper dinner; not just a snack"; "he finally has a proper job"
Antonyms:
unreal, indecent, general, improper, unbecoming, nonspecific, incorrect, inappropriate, unseemly, out-of-the-way, uncomely, indecorous, untoward, wrongproper(ip)adjective
limited to the thing specified
"the city proper"; "his claim is connected with the deed proper"
Antonyms:
untoward, improper, unreal, incorrect, wrong, indecorous, inappropriate, nonspecific, general, indecent, out-of-the-way, unseemly, unbecoming, uncomelyproper, rightadjective
appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person's character, needs
"everything in its proper place"; "the right man for the job"; "she is not suitable for the position"
Synonyms:
right(a), proper(a), good, proper(ip), veracious, correct, right, ripe, right-hand(a)Antonyms:
unreal, indecorous, improper, out-of-the-way, unseemly, uncomely, unbecoming, nonspecific, general, inappropriate, incorrect, wrong, indecent, untoward
Editors Contribution
mannered
Dictionary of English Synonymes
properadjective
Synonyms:
particular, peculiar, individual, special, specific, not commonproperadjective
Synonyms:
fit, fitting, befitting, suitable, appropriate, meet, seemly, convenient, adapted, becoming, right, legitimate
Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words
properadjective
Synonyms:
appropriate, meet, suitable, seemly, condign, appertinent, conformable, consistent, apposite, decorous, conventional, formal, sedate, demureAntonyms:
improper, inappropriate, unsuitable
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Words popularity by usage frequency
ranking | word | |
---|---|---|
#109 | just | |
#155 | good | |
#196 | full | |
#212 | real | |
#234 | right | |
#273 | special | |
#294 | own | |
#315 | total | |
#339 | personal | |
#522 | complete | |
#761 | due | |
#803 | sound | |
#831 | true | |
#859 | meet | |
#1152 | appropriate | |
#1667 | fair | |
#1808 | royal | |
#1816 | relevant | |
#1847 | correct | |
#1931 | fit | |
#2154 | comprehensive | |
#2818 | proper | |
#2937 | reasonable | |
#3066 | accurate | |
#3378 | becoming | |
#3542 | properly | |
#3580 | suitable | |
#3614 | sufficient | |
#4555 | adequate | |
#4996 | correctly | |
#5018 | genuine | |
#5870 | constitutional | |
#6216 | intensive | |
#6621 | ripe | |
#7256 | decent | |
#7772 | fitting | |
#8085 | worthy | |
#8207 | adapted | |
#8742 | apt | |
#9289 | suited | |
#10534 | neat | |
#12564 | sensible | |
#12949 | honorable | |
#13827 | equitable | |
#14307 | duly | |
#15415 | peculiar | |
#15495 | sweeping | |
#16723 | polite | |
#17054 | utter | |
#18432 | prudent | |
#19860 | graceful | |
#67543 | befitting | |
#80929 | comely | |
#168275 | seemly | |
#173643 | decorous | |
#282556 | congruous | |
#324754 | veracious |
How to use proper in a sentence?
There's been short durations throughout the last 24 hours where gates have been closed to allow the proper people to come in and out of those gates.
Commenting to reporters regarding polls—I’ve always been fond of dogs, and they are the one animal that knows the proper treatment to give to poles.
Sometimes one has to go against what is proper in order to do what is right
Trigger locks, lock boxes, and proper securing of guns in the home are all very important but challenging to do every day, just like using seat belts, it’s an active prevention strategy requiring constant active behavior to achieve success.
The prime function of the criminal law is to protect our persons and our property; these purposes are now engulfed in a mass of other distracting, inefficiently performed, legislative duties. When the criminal law invades the spheres of private morality and social welfare, it exceeds its proper limits at the cost of neglecting its primary tasks. This unwarranted extension is expensive, ineffective, and criminogenic.
Translations for proper
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- لائقArabic
- adequatCatalan, Valencian
- slušný, vlastní, pravý, pořádný, správnýCzech
- richtig, angemessen, eigentlich, Eigenname, passend, eigenGerman
- adecuada, adecuado, conveniente, precisoSpanish
- oikea, kunnon, kelpo, erisnimi, luonnonvärinen, varsinainen, kunnollinenFinnish
- juste, propre, convenable, exact, appropriéFrench
- iomchaidhScottish Gaelic
- ראויHebrew
- उचितHindi
- tulajdonnév, tényleges, saját, megfelelőHungarian
- համապատասխան, պատշաճArmenian
- proprio, decente, appropriato, adattoItalian
- まとも, 厳密, 固有, 適当, 完全, ふさわしい, 徹底した, 上品, 妥当, 特有, 品の良い, 適した, 完璧, 元, 独特, きちんとした, 本来, 適切, 全くJapanese
- پهسهندKurdish
- сопствен, соодветен, пристоен, вистински, свој, добар, умесен, самиот, правилен, погоден, личен, прикладен, правMacedonian
- echt, grondig, juist, compleet, goed, eigen, eigenlijk, volslagen, keurig, net, geschikt, degelijk, zelf, deugdelijk, gepastDutch
- høvelig, egentlig, ordentlig, skikkelig, riktig, sann, egen, veloppdragent, korrekt, passende, høviskNorwegian
- właściwyPolish
- propriamente dito, adequado, por completo, próprio, apropriado, decente, completoPortuguese
- propriuRomanian
- как таковой, круглый, надлежащий, собственный, настоящий, подходящий, самый, соответствующий, полный, правильныйRussian
- lämplig, proper, riktig, egen, passande, äkta, egennamn, egentligSwedish
- düzgünTurkish
- اچتUrdu
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"proper." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 11 Feb. 2025. <https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/proper>.
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