1
2
3
4
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word decent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of decent are chaste, modest, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

When is chaste a more appropriate choice than decent?

The meanings of chaste and decent largely overlap; however, chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How do pure and chaste relate to one another, in the sense of decent?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decent The plastic will need to remain in place for most of summer to achieve decent control. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025 Our tester, who can’t go without decent cushioning thanks to foot surgery a decade ago, gave them a five out of five in the comfort department. Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 21 June 2025 And second, the pandemic severely disrupted the global economy soon after Trump’s tariffs took effect, preventing economists from getting a decent picture of how significantly prices rose. David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 June 2025 Sales were decent, too, with more than one million copies shifted per year at the height of what quickly became a phenomenon. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
  • Nevertheless, nice to get an explanation for why Vondrousova has been invisible.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • The music is a successful part of the show, so artists want to be a part of it, which is nice.
    Clarissa Brooks, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • But the film’s pulse-pounding excitement is merely a feint to suggest how the rush for vengeance — no matter how justified — only brings about more killing, dragging down honorable intentions and leaving blood on everyone’s hands.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
  • Milk was forced to resign from the Navy and receive an other than honorable discharge.
    Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The borrower acknowledges that the borrower is capable of using the pans in a safe and proper manner.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
  • Talk to your provider about your symptoms and health history to determine if Botox is the proper treatment for you.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • The fuel running this sleek, aerodynamic speedster of a movie is 100-percent pure star power.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
  • This mocktail is pure indulgence with a playful twist.
    Essence, Essence, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Having witnessed her own mother’s struggle to access adequate care, Lesly believes that reshaping healthcare to be more equitable will not only meet societal needs but also provide new generations of healthcare professionals with fulfilling roles that endure.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Those living in older apartments lack shelter Around half of the nighttime residents at the train station are foreign workers, who frequently live in older apartment buildings that are often not equipped with adequate shelters.
    Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • My advice is to conduct an honest assessment of your team's capabilities relative to migration requirements.
    AJ Bubb, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • What is your secret to remaining an innovator in your field? To be honest, I get inspired.
    Nigel Smith, People.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Invest in educator training that moves beyond basic tool familiarity to pedagogical integration and ethical considerations.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Such governance will likely include public data trusts, ethical review boards, and inclusive policy-making processes—all of which emphasize collective rather than individualistic solutions.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Padilla ordinarily is a very polite guy, extraordinary civil — calm, soft-spoken, the opposite of an aggressive loudmouth.
    George Skelton, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
  • Gentle readers often ask Miss Manners how to respond to questions put to them for which there does not appear to be any polite answer.
    Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!