Ethical
Ethical adjective - Conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue.
Usage example: the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force
Proper is a synonym for ethical in right topic. In some cases you can use "Proper" instead an adjective "Ethical", when it comes to topics like fair, moral.
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
-
However, you're the player, and you're in charge around here, so I'll let you make your own judgments about what's ethical and proper here...
Source: Kleptomaniac Hero - In fact it is possible for one person to use ethical systems proper to both specialties as long as the person admits the difference and uses them in their proper areas.
Source: Systems Of Survival - He lies, steals, and openly cheats to get what he wants - proper for a MIGHTY pirate but hardly ethical, but he doesn't do it out of malice (well except for nailing Stan into a previously-used coffin, but that's Stan).
Source: Chaotic Neutral
Cite this Source
Proper and Ethical. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/ethical/proper
Ethical & Proper. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/ethical/proper>.
Proper or Ethical. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/ethical/proper.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "ethical" and "proper" have occurred on timeline