Synonyms for improper
- adjective
Most common
unlawful indecent unseemly unbecoming incorrect unsuitable unwarrantable
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Unbecoming
unbecoming, indecent, unseemly, unlawful, untoward, bad, irregular, illicit, immoral, aberrant, illegitimate, indelicate, impolite, inept, uncouth, unconventional, iniquitous, ungodly, rough, unrefined, unpolished, reprobate
2. Inappropriate
inappropriate informal, incorrect, wrong, unsuitable, unfit, erroneous, inaccurate, undue, false, unsuited, incongruous, unhappy, inapposite, amiss, inexpedient, unadapted, unmeet, unapt, solecistic, faulty, untrue, inapplicable
Other
unwarrantable, unproper dated rare
Definitions
- adj. 1
Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
- adj. 2
Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest.
Related words
- Word family
- improperness
- Phrases
- improper noun improper fraction
Example sentences
- unlawful You have a duty not to comply with an unlawful order.
- indecent Sorry, I can't tell you my name. It's too indecent.
- unseemly Asking for seconds would be unseemly.
- unbecoming Your behavior is unbecoming of a gentleman.
- incorrect This book is now considered politically incorrect.
- unsuitable There is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| improper | falling | |
| unlawful | falling | |
| indecent | steady | |
| unseemly | rising | |
| unbecoming | steady | |
| incorrect | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bad1
- 5 letters
- wrong1, false1, rough1, unfit2, undue2, inept2, amiss2, unapt
- 6 letters
- faulty2, untrue2, unmeet
- 7 letters
- unhappy3, immoral3, illicit3, ungodly3, uncouth2
- 8 letters
- unlawful3, indecent3, unseemly3, untoward3, aberrant3, impolite3, unsuited3, unproper
- 9 letters
- incorrect3, irregular4, erroneous4, unrefined3, reprobate3, unadapted
- 10 letters
- inaccurate4, unsuitable4, unbecoming4, unpolished, iniquitous, indelicate4, inapposite, solecistic
- 11 letters
- incongruous4, inexpedient
- 12 letters
- illegitimate5, inapplicable5
- 13 letters
- inappropriate5, unwarrantable
- 14 letters
- unconventional5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (unfit2 = 2 syllables).