seemly

[seem-lee]

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

/ ˈsiːmlɪ /

adjective

1. proper or fitting

2. obsolete,  pleasing or handsome in appearance

adverb

1. archaic,  properly or decorously

Other Word Forms

• seemliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of seemly¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of seemly¹

C13: from Old Norse sœomiligr, from sœmr befitting

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.

Read more on Seattle Times

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

Read more on Salon

The ambitions of most of the GOP’s presidential aspirants are larger than any executive experiences that might make their ambitions more seemly.

Read more on Washington Post

It was all very public, and not very seemly.

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

Read more on Washington Post