PROPRIETARY Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

proprietary

adjective

Definition of proprietary

as in exclusive

belonging to only one person, unit, or group and not used by or available to others The restaurant's proprietary recipe for barbecue sauce is only known to the head chef.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 proprietary Organizations that lock into proprietary systems too early risk struggling to adopt better tools as the field advances; the goal is to prove value, not to run pilots for their own sake. — Renu Navale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 OpenAI and Anthropic don’t allow their proprietary AI software to be downloaded and used. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Over the past year however, Meta’s commitment to open-weight has blurred, as the company mixed open releases with proprietary ones. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 The Farmers’ Almanac’s winter outlook was prepared by forecaster Caleb Weatherbee, who used the same proprietary formula the organization has used since its founding in 1818. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proprietary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proprietary

exclusive

Adjective

Terry drives him home on an exclusive secret road between Beverly Hills and the Valley (the only other people who Terry knows have the gate code are Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty) but pulls over to a scenic viewpoint on the way.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
The exclusive restaurant, which only serves hotel guests and club members, also offers alfresco dining in a courtyard shaded by expansive oak trees.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of exclusive

Browse Nearby Words

propping (up)

proprietary

proprieties

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Proprietary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proprietary. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of proprietary

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on proprietary

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes