You don't have proper dignity as chief of the section.
Source: tatoeba (16242)
Proper
/ˈpɹɔp.ə/
Synonyms for "proper" (513 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (103)
Adjective(20 words)
rightaboveboardacceptableaccurate labeladmissibleadmissible evidenceadmittableappropriateappropriate behaviorappropriate settingappropriate usecapitalized termcomeliercomeliestconstitutional authoritycopaseticcore linguistics conceptcorrectcorrect answercorrect descriptor
Determiner(1 words)
a good fit
ableabsoluteacceptedaccommodated toaccording toaccording to hoyleaccurateacknowledgedadaptedadapted toadequateadjusted toadmittedadvantageousadvisableafteragreeable toagreeably toall rightalone
Show 50 more words
alrightanswerable toapplicableappositeappropriateapprovedaproposaptarrantau faitauthenticauthoritativebalancedbanausicbeautifulbecomingbefittingbeing donebeneficialblamedbycanonicalcapableceremoniouscharactercharacteristicchastechristiancivilclassicalcomelycomme il fautcommodiouscompatiblecompetentcompletecondignconformableconformable toconformingconformistconfoundedcongruent withcongruousconservativeconsistent withconsummateconvenientconventionalcorrect
Noun(8 words)
adequate usebe appropriatebe suitablebelonging indexclassroom standard languagecomportingconstitutional draftingcorrect english
Adverb(1 words)
Strong matches (154)
Adjective(58 words)
correct ideacorrect labelcorrect sentence structurecorrect stepcorrect understandingcorrect usagecorrect wordingcorrectestdemureethicalethical guidelineethical matterethical systemexactfashionablefit personfittingfitting actionfitting roleformal argument
Show 38 more words
formal atmosphereformal atmospheresformal bowformal contractformal courtingformal descriptorformal englishformal english usageformal guidelineformal institutionsformal italianformal languageformal languagesformal languages examplesformal logicsformal modelformal permissionformal proceduresformal rebuttalformal rulesformal standardsformal statementformal styleformal systemformal toneformal writinggainlygenuine apologygrammaticalgrammatical errorsgrammatical formgrammatical functiongrammatical prepositiongrammatical requirementgrammatical usagegrammatical wordhistorical sensehonest
Noun(19 words)
courteouscoycrashingcrasscustomaryde rigueurdead rightdecentdecideddecorousdefensibledefinitivedelicatedemuredeserveddesirabledesireddiagnosticdignifieddistinct
Show 55 more words
distinctivedistinguisheddonedownrightdueegregiouseleganteligibleemployableequitableestablishedethicalevangelicalevenevenhandedexactexpectedexpedientfairfair and squarefaithfulfaultlessfavorablefeasiblefelicitousfirmfitfittenfittingflagrantflawlessformalfructuousfunctionalgenteelgentlemanlygenuineglaringgoodgood forgrosshappyhelpfulhonesthonorableidiocraticidiosyncraticimpeccablein accordance within agreement within characterin compliance within conformity within correspondence toin harmony with
Related words (256)
in keeping within line within lock-step within obedience toin step within uniformity withindividualinfernalinspiredintolerableintrinsicjustjust rightjustifiablejustifiedkosherladylikelawfullegallegitimate
Show 156 more words
letter-perfectlevellikelyliterallogicalmarkedmeetmeet and rightmeritedmeticulousmodestmoralnaturalnicenormalnormativeof general utilityof helpof serviceof the faithof useofficialokokayonlyopenopportuneorthodoxorthodoxicalout-and-outoutrightownparticularpeculiarperperfectpermissibleplacepolitepoliticpositivepracticalpragmaticpragmaticalpreciousprecisepresentableprigpriggishprimprincipledprissyprofitableprofoundpronouncedproper toprudishpukkapunctiliouspurepuritanpuritanicalqualifiedquintessentialrankrealreasonreasonablereceivedrecognizedrecommendablerefinedregularrelevantrespectablerespectiverightright and properrighteousrightfulrigorousripesafesatisfactorysavoryscripturalseasonablesedateseemlysensibleseparateserviceableshatteringshockingsinglesingularsobersolelysortablesoundspecialspecificsquarestandardstarkstark-staringstraightstraight-up-and-downstraitlacedstrictly speakingstuffysuitablesuitable forsuitedsuperlativesurpassingtastefultextualthe veriestthoroughthoroughgoingtimelyto be desiredtotaltraditionaltraditionalistictruetrue bluetrue to formtrue-blueunbearableunconscionableundeniableunequivocaluniform withuniqueunmitigatedunqualifiedunrelievedunspoiledurbaneusefulusualutilitarianutterutterlyvirtuouswarrantablewarrantedwell-chosenwell-expressedwell-putwell-timedwickedwiseworthwhile
Noun(24 words)
language rule systemlawful ownerlawfully obtainedlinguagem formalmoral normsmore academicmore customarymore formal frenchmore genuinemore officialmost legalnormal force conceptofficial statementpart of speechprofessional conductpuckarectaright turnssigehspanish formal
Show 4 more words
Adjective(51 words)
legal movelegal requirementslegitimate businesslegitimate claimlegitimate sellerlicitmaidenlikematronlymedical treatmentmoralmoral qualitiesnamed nounofficial codeofficial communicationofficial documentofficial letterofficial procedureofficial sanctionofficial setting forthorigin
Show 31 more words
pertinent observationpreppyprimmerprimmestprissiestprivate club etiquetteprofessional demeanorprofessional dictionprofessional jargonproperestpublic behaviorright pyramid projectrighterrightestroot meaningsafe electrical groundingsavoriestseemlierseemliestsocial group normssocial suitabilitystarchystiffeststrictsuitabletastefulunabusedvalid conclusionvalid diagnosis codewell-manneredworthiest
Verb(3 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
most formal prompts
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: right, a good fit, able, aboveboard, absolute.
- Sentence evidence is available for proper, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "proper".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "proper"
Keep "proper" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "proper" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "proper", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "proper" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
10 entriesearly usagenamed entityproper attireproper divisorproper nounproper procedureproper protocolproper subsetproper subspaceproto form
Collocations
6 entriesproper channelproper conductproper nounproper procedureproper protocolproper use
Inflections
2 entriesmore propermost proper
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
26 entriesShowing 16 of 26 words.
Translations
2 translations across 2 languages.
Finnish
1 entries- luonnonvärinen adj (heraldry: having its natural or usual coloration)
Swedish
1 entries- naturfärgad adj (heraldry: having its natural or usual coloration)
Sample sentences
37 total sentences available.
Stockings should be of the proper size.
Source: tatoeba (18087)
England proper does not include Wales.
Source: tatoeba (26127)
If you want to do good work, you should use the proper tools.
Source: tatoeba (30076)
Showing 4 of 37 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "proper"?
Closest matches include right, a good fit, able, aboveboard, absolute.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "proper"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.