1
as in nice
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
as decent and kind a couple as you could ever hope to meet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honorable
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
demanded nothing less than decent behavior by the troops serving overseas
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3
as in proper
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
decent clothing for someone attending a funeral, if only as a friend of a friend
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4
as in pure
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent
students were warned that their skits could be funny but still had to remain decent
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5
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards
he did a decent job on the project, but there's still room for improvement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decent
Besides, $500 gets you a pretty decent phone these days — without ostentatious gold and a close affiliation with a president who has a decades-long track record of launching and sinking well over a dozen businesses.
—
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
While Tucker did miss a decent chunk of September, Seiya Suzuki was available to fill in, and the Cubs chose to see what Caissie and Ballesteros, both of whom have more advanced bats, could do.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The junior off-roader will likely absorb a decent chunk of the customers that would have otherwise bought an Escape, its mechanical sibling.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026
According to The Cook Political Report, the seat leans Republican, although Davis — one of the most moderate Democratic Congress members — still has a decent chance of winning reelection.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
While Tucker did miss a decent chunk of September, Seiya Suzuki was available to fill in, and the Cubs chose to see what Caissie and Ballesteros, both of whom have more advanced bats, could do.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The junior off-roader will likely absorb a decent chunk of the customers that would have otherwise bought an Escape, its mechanical sibling.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026
According to The Cook Political Report, the seat leans Republican, although Davis — one of the most moderate Democratic Congress members — still has a decent chance of winning reelection.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
-
The suede upper is also a nice departure from classic leather on other styles.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Monogramming linens and towels is always a nice touch.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Clarke, a junior, also was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection after totaling 30 tackles, eight passes defended and a fumble recovery in eight games.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Other than honorable discharges carry serious, long-term consequences, including the inability to access veteran benefits and disqualifications on becoming a police officer.—
Josh Wood,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Resar said the issue is technique and having a dedicated coach who specializes in tight ends and can teach him proper footwork and hand placement.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After not hosting an official ceremony in 2022, the Golden Globes returned to proper form in 2023, with stars showing off jaw-dropping looks on the red carpet.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Just the pure joy of motion and music.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That verisimilitude functioned as a solvent, lending credibility and urgency to elements of the show that might otherwise register as pure cheese; the medical realism and sentimental flourishes were mutually reinforcing.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The government, in its brief and in court, argued that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has the authority to terminate any parole program and gave adequate notice by publishing the termination in the federal registry.—
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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As the United States established dominance on the world stage, the White House grounds changed dramatically, with major expansions to prevent overcrowding and afford the first family and their staff adequate office space on the maximum-security property.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In the first half, the defensive activity and competitive spirit were far better against the league’s best team, a night after Miami came up woefully short in both of those areas against the league’s worst team.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Despite being given three power plays in the first, the B’s were not good at all on the man advantage.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, to be honest, our dance card is already mighty full with a whole array of different kinds of gigs – from big pop shows to classic rock concerts and a number of different small club shows.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Shared finances, emotional investments or trust issues become crystal clear, prompting honest conversations and practical decision-making.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This said, the movers were very polite and respectful and removed all of the excess packing.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Among her trio of old friends on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Kate is the polite peacekeeper.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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