IMPROPRIETY Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words

impropriety

noun

ˌim-p(r)ə-ˈprī-ə-tē

Definition of impropriety

as in unfitness

the quality or state of not being socially proper the impropriety of the song that the campers sang for the visitors was embarrassing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mistake

a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark such improprieties as asking people how much money they make

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wrongness

the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting I see no impropriety in referring to certain anatomical parts by their standard names

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 impropriety During Monday’s meeting trustees forcefully pushed back on the suggestion that there were governance improprieties. — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026 Three departures and allegations of impropriety against four leaders of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system have eroded trust and raised questions about the system’s leadership going forward. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Organizers maintain that the events are entirely separate, and the same White House official rejected suggestions of impropriety. — Nik Popli, Time, 11 June 2026 The mere appearance of potential impropriety is what all judges are supposed to be avoiding, said David Weber, director of the sports law institute at the University of Oregon. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for impropriety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impropriety

Noun

Musk attempted to color Altman as a uniquely unsuitable supervisor of this technology, but this invariably invited further scrutiny into his own abject unfitness for the role.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
The real issue is Alvero’s unfitness for his office.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of unfitness

Noun

The debtor made a mistake to incur the liability, the liability was not covered by adequate insurance, and no settlement was achieved in litigation.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Despite acknowledging mistakes were made, FIFA is still facing a barrage of obstacles that are preventing it and Infantino from moving on from the saga.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

But for less intimate relationships, the perception of wrongness was the key predictor of negative feelings and avoidance.

— Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Hidden, almost, in the center of the exhibition are a few of Mendieta’s early paintings from the late 1960s and early 1970s, which have a jarring feeling of wrongness about them.

— Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of wrongness

Noun

The public weighted plain disrespect – how people are treated, apart from the economics – significantly more heavily than the philosophers did.

— ESMT Berlin, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
In the millions upon millions of words written and said about this World Cup, who has shown disrespect to players from Haiti, or any other smaller nation?

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of disrespect

Noun

But the motivations for the murders were an unplanned series of blunders designed to correct mistakes that were made.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey made an uncharacteristic defensive blunder Wednesday night.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

That, however, is nothing now compared to the far larger incorrectness of the rulers of a significant number of the most powerful nations on earth.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Their sly and winning songwriting deftly embraced more than a wink-wink, nudge-nudge of shrewd parody and unabashed social incorrectness.

— Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026

Definition of incorrectness

Noun

Eventually, Batula moved past Cooke’s indiscretions and married him in 2021.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 29 June 2026
History is littered with the careers of politicians who committed crimes or engaged in moral indiscretions and then tried to lie their way out of public shame.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026

Definition of indiscretion

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improprieties

impropriety

improv

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“Impropriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impropriety. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of impropriety

noun

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