improper
adjective
Synonyms
- amiss
- graceless
- inapposite
- inappropriate
- inapt
- incongruous
- incorrect
- indecorous
- inept
- infelicitous
- malapropos
- perverse
- unapt
- unbecoming
- unfit
- unhappy
- unseemly
- unsuitable
- untoward
- wrong
Example Sentences
Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Biden administration officials considered the request an improper use of federal troops and assets, according to people familiar with their thinking. Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Worse than improper use of drugs, is the low quality of the drugs that people get on the street, and end up dead because of drugs formulated by idiots. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 The group's legal counsel in that lawsuit, Roger Teich, suggested that the ban was improper. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 18 Aug. 2022 In his order, Burke denied a new trial because evidence precluded at trial wasn’t improper. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 6 Aug. 2022 Some accessibility advocates said the alt text depicted in the campaign was improper, in some instances for failing to adequately describe the picture, in others for providing quippy bits of extra information not related to the image. Katie Deighton, WSJ, 15 July 2022 At that time, it was generally believed that sweating was improper and that white clothing would either curb a player’s perspiration or hide it, Time reported. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Suspicious activity reports are filed by financial institutions when clients make large cash transactions or transfers that could signal criminal activity, such as tax evasion or money laundering, although many such transactions are not improper. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius, from in- + proprius proper
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing improper
Kids Definition
improper
adjective
Legal Definition
improper
adjective
improper
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- inappropriate
- incorrect
- unsuitable
- wrong
- unfit
- unhappy
- irrelevant
- unseemly
- unfortunate
- indecorous
- incongruous
- infelicitous
- unacceptable
- unbecoming
- inconsistent
- inapt
- bad
- perverse
- inept
- untoward
- unapt
- awkward
- graceless
- amiss
- untimely
- inapposite
- out of place
- inopportune
- unseasonable
- extraneous
- malapropos
- out of the way
- naughty
- inapplicable
- incompatible
- forbidden
- sinful
- immaterial
- mismatched
- unsatisfactory
- irrelative
- prohibited
- uncongenial
- censurable
- disallowed
- blameworthy
- ungraceful
- proscribed
- banned
- blamable
- barred
- outlawed
- interdicted
- gauche
- misbecoming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- proper
- appropriate
- correct
- suitable
- fitting
- right
- relative
- timely
- felicitous
- decorous
- relevant
- applicable
- happy
- meet
- fit
- opportune
- becoming
- seemly
- seasonable
- apt
- befitting
- genteel
- fortunate
- adequate
- material
- compatible
- permitted
- harmonious
- congenial
- acceptable
- authorized
- pointed
- germane
- satisfactory
- apposite
- pat
- fine
- approved
- endorsed
- sanctioned
- decent
- okay
- promoted
- kosher
- tolerable
- supported
- licensed
- allowed
- respectable
- exemplary
- passable
- apropos
- indorsed
- commendable
- creditable
- encouraged
- all right
- harmonious
- balanced
- irreproachable
- blameless
- consonant
- abetted
- congruous
- companionate
- OK
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of improper are indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, and unseemly. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.
The synonyms indecorous and improper are sometimes interchangeable, but indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.
The words indelicate and improper can be used in similar contexts, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.
While in some cases nearly identical to improper, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.
The words unseemly and improper are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.