seemly

American  

[seem-lee] / ˈsim li /

adjective

seemlier, seemliest

1. fitting or becoming with respect to propriety or good taste; decent; decorous.

   Your outburst of rage was hardly seemly.

   Synonyms:

   meet, appropriate, proper, right

2. suitable or appropriate; fitting.

   a seemly gesture.

   Synonyms:

   meet, appropriate, proper, right

3. of pleasing appearance; handsome.

---

adverb

1. in a seemly manner; fittingly; becomingly.

seemly British  

/ ˈsiːmlɪ /

adjective

1. proper or fitting

2. obsolete pleasing or handsome in appearance

---

adverb

1. archaic properly or decorously

Other Word Forms

• seemliness noun

Etymology

Origin of seemly

1175–1225; Middle English semely < Old Norse sæmiligr honorable; derivative of sœmr ( seem )

Example Sentences

In court papers, state prison officials indicated their prospects for buying the drugs started to change as soon as it seemly likely lawmakers would pass the shield law.

From Seattle Times

"Whether it's technically extortion, whether it is some other misconduct, nothing about this is seemly for a former president," she said.

From Salon

It was all very public, and not very seemly.

From New York Times

Her trial would be more seemly had she offered a different defense.

From Washington Post

She adds in the series that she “didn’t feel it was seemly to get into a public fight with him.”

From Washington Post