Synonyms for proper
- adjective
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Appropriate — suitable. Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable
appropriate, correct, seemly, fitting, fit, suitable, reasonable, just, expedient, apposite, sensible, legitimate, prim, befitting, commodious, becoming, due, advisable, prudent, rightful, conformable, equitable
2. Decent — suitable. Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous
decent, right, good, formal, conventional, fair, honest, kosher, official, customary, natural, traditional, respectable, moral, delicate, authoritative, polite, honorable US, honourable UK, straight, modest, righteous, well-mannered
3. Perfect — accurate, strictly applied. Utter, complete
perfect, thorough, thorough-going, complete, regular, real, absolute, out-and-out, pure, pyore US, decided, unqualified, precious, total, utter
4. Specific — possessed, related. Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular
specific, particular, individual, own, special, singular, characteristic, peculiar dated
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Suitable. Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable.
the proper time to plant potatoes
- adj. 2
Suitable. Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous.
- adj. 3
Possessed, related. Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular.
They have a proper saint almost for every peculiar infirmity: for poison, gouts, agues […].
- adj. 4
Accurate, strictly applied. Utter, complete.
When I realized I was wearing my shirt inside out, I felt a proper fool.
Related words
- Word family
- properness property propriety properly
- Phrases
- proper name proper noun proper left proper job proper value proper vector noun substantive proper proper right
- Other spellings
- propa
Choose the right word
A thing is appropriated to or for a specific purpose (to which it thus becomes proper, in the original sense of being its own); money appropriated by Congress for one purpose can not be expended for any other.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- correct I hope you will correct the situation immediately.
- appropriate It's not appropriate for puritanical misanthropic.
- fitting I would like to try it. Where is the fitting room?
- formal The premier paid a formal visit to the White House.
- decent No decent human being could possibly believe this.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| proper | falling | |
| correct | steady | |
| appropriate | steady | |
| fitting | steady | |
| seemly | steady | |
| formal | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- own1, due1, fit1
- 4 letters
- just1, good1, real1, fair1, pure1, prim1
- 5 letters
- right1, total2, royal2, moral2, utter2, pyore
- 6 letters
- honest2, formal2, decent2, strict1, modest2, polite2, kosher2, seemly
- 7 letters
- special2, perfect2, natural3, decided3, regular3, correct2, fitting2, prudent2
- 8 letters
- official3, complete2, straight1, specific3, becoming3, absolute3, suitable3, precious2, sensible3, delicate3, thorough2, singular3, peculiar3, rightful2
- 9 letters
- honorable4, righteous2, customary4, equitable4, advisable4, befitting3, expedient4
- 10 letters
- particular4, individual5, reasonable4, legitimate4, honourable4, commodious4
- 11 letters
- traditional4, appropriate4, respectable4, unqualified4, conformable
- 12 letters
- conventional4
- 13 letters
- comprehensive4, authoritative5
- 14 letters
- characteristic5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (total2 = 2 syllables).