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Glite Dictionary
seemliness

seemliness

8.9
Good behaviour that follows social rules and shows respect for others
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːm.lɪ.nəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : decoro
  • The committee emphasized the importance of seemliness in all public speeches to maintain a professional image.

Examples

  • Even by the 1600s, people used civility to mean an "act or expression of politeness" (n200) and "decency" and "seemliness" (n201).

    Academic text (2009)

  • In social situations, he always demonstrates great seemliness by using polite language and respectful gestures.

  • Her seemliness was evident when she graciously complimented her host during the dinner party.

Synonyms

decency
vsseemliness
155 3.0

Polite, respectful behavior that follows common social rules

emphasizes being proper and considerate toward others rather than strict rules
politeness
vsseemliness
26 1.3

Showing good manners and respect to other people

stresses proper and appropriate conduct beyond simple manners
respectability
vsseemliness
19 4.6

Being seen by other people as proper and having a good name

focuses on outward reputation rather than thoughtful, appropriate conduct
thoughtfulness
vsseemliness
8 2.9

Being kind and careful about other people's needs and feelings

adds concern for correct social behaviour and moral appropriateness
nicety
vsseemliness
4 8.8

Careful attention to style and small details

is broader, covering general propriety and considerate behaviour rather than exact rules
respectfulness
vsseemliness
1 3.9

Polite and kind behavior toward other people's feelings and wishes

adds the idea of proper social or moral standards beyond polite acts
decentness
vsseemliness
4.4

A quality that shows polite, honest behavior and neat clothes

focuses more on conduct and thoughtfulness rather than appearance alone
courteousness
vsseemliness
3.5

A polite way of behaving that shows respect for other people

includes broader concern for appropriateness and moral conduct
considerateness
vsseemliness
6.1

Care for other people's needs and feelings

balances this care with expectations of social propriety and appropriateness

Antonyms

impropriety
  • Formal
16 8.0

Behavior that is not socially acceptable

indecency
  • NSFW
12 6.3

Behavior or speech people find offensive and wrong

unseemliness
8.6

A way someone acts or looks that seems not proper in public

How Seemly

decorum
  • Formal
30 7.3
propriety
  • Formal
27 7.4
seemliness
  • Formal
8.9
impropriety
  • Formal
16 8.0
indecency
  • NSFW
12 6.3

Surface Forms

seemliness singular
seemlinesses plural

Morphology

seemliness = seemly (transparent) = seem + ly + ness

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'seemly', yielding the state or quality of being proper.

Etymology

Seemliness comes from the old verb seem, which originally meant 'to fit' or 'be appropriate' for a situation. So, seemliness is the quality of behaving in a polite, proper way that 'fits' what people expect.