1
: marked by moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill
hard-working and decent folks
it's very decent of them to help
2
3
: free from immodesty or obscenity
decent language
4
: fairly good : adequate, satisfactory
decent wages
5
decently
adverb
Examples of decent in a Sentence
Not long afterward, his father's health starts to fail. Mrs. Queenan has kicked him out, and he's landed in a flophouse. When word reaches Joe, he takes out his checkbook and moves his father into a decent apartment.
—
James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 26 Apr. 2009
In a whiney, rambling speech at his sentencing he took a page from the script of the earlier case, once again portraying himself as a flawed but decent man unfairly caught up in circumstances.
—Bill Hewitt et al., People, 22 Dec. 2008
Tommy Railles, the doctor's boy. Just a great kid. Smart at school, a decent athlete, great with the girls, wonderful with older people.
—Ward Just, Forgetfulness, (2006) 2007
The next time an overly friendly blond sidles up in a crowded bar and asks you to order her a brand-name martini, or a cheery tourist couple wonder whether you can take their picture with their sleek new camera-in-a-cell phone, you might want to think twice. There's a decent chance that these strangers are pitchmen in disguise, paid to oh-so-subtly pique your interest in their product.
—Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
I don't understand how so decent a person could be involved with this kind of crime.
He is a decent guy who would help anyone in need.
You need to do the decent thing and tell her what happened.
Are there any decent schools in that area?
I've got to get some decent clothes.
James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 26 Apr. 2009
In a whiney, rambling speech at his sentencing he took a page from the script of the earlier case, once again portraying himself as a flawed but decent man unfairly caught up in circumstances.
—Bill Hewitt et al., People, 22 Dec. 2008
Tommy Railles, the doctor's boy. Just a great kid. Smart at school, a decent athlete, great with the girls, wonderful with older people.
—Ward Just, Forgetfulness, (2006) 2007
The next time an overly friendly blond sidles up in a crowded bar and asks you to order her a brand-name martini, or a cheery tourist couple wonder whether you can take their picture with their sleek new camera-in-a-cell phone, you might want to think twice. There's a decent chance that these strangers are pitchmen in disguise, paid to oh-so-subtly pique your interest in their product.
—Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
I don't understand how so decent a person could be involved with this kind of crime.
He is a decent guy who would help anyone in need.
You need to do the decent thing and tell her what happened.
Are there any decent schools in that area?
I've got to get some decent clothes.
Recent Examples on the Web
The former Washington Husky has had a decent start to his 2025 season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Thus far, Wall Street has had a decent start to the first-quarter earnings season.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
In fact, any first-year engineering student could build a decent one without much effort.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025
But if there isn’t one to select in the first round — and there’s a decent chance LSU’s Will Campbell will be off the board — the Bears can’t create a player who isn’t there.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Thus far, Wall Street has had a decent start to the first-quarter earnings season.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
In fact, any first-year engineering student could build a decent one without much effort.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025
But if there isn’t one to select in the first round — and there’s a decent chance LSU’s Will Campbell will be off the board — the Bears can’t create a player who isn’t there.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decent
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decent. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decent
adjective
de·cent
ˈdēs-ᵊnt 
1
a
: agreeing with standards of proper behavior, good taste, or morality
b
: clothed in a proper and suitable manner and style
2
: free from poor taste or bad manners
our conversations were always decent, never obscene
3
: fairly good : adequate
decent housing
decently
adverb
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