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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decent
By and large, Americans are decent people.
—
Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The favorite was the egg-on-egg one, which had a nice salty-sweet quality; also decent was the fish paste, like a foie gras of the ocean.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Across 33 tracks split into two solo albums, two of this century’s coldest, most martyrial rap auteurs—who have bled enough on the page to paint the walls a new color—decide to flex new muscles over a decent batch of ambient plugg beats.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Jimmy is more concerned that AI is able to instantly produce a decent scene.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The favorite was the egg-on-egg one, which had a nice salty-sweet quality; also decent was the fish paste, like a foie gras of the ocean.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Across 33 tracks split into two solo albums, two of this century’s coldest, most martyrial rap auteurs—who have bled enough on the page to paint the walls a new color—decide to flex new muscles over a decent batch of ambient plugg beats.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Jimmy is more concerned that AI is able to instantly produce a decent scene.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
-
Some other teachers that maybe hadn’t been so polite to me or nice to me, all of a sudden became a little nicer.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Thursday night is going to be a nice little appetizer, so to speak.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After receiving an honorable discharge in 1972, Nolte returned to Raytown to begin a career as an electrician.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Why did the Pentagon, for no plausible reason other than animus, expel trans service members after years of honorable service?—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Configured for 16 passengers – with room for up to 20 – the cabin rocks thick carpeting, proper seats with ample legroom, a coffee bar, Wi-Fi, USB-C charging at every position, and ambient ceiling lighting for evening crossings.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 09,
New Atlas,
9 Apr. 2026
-
With proper care and maintenance, most mosses will double in size in about a year, filling in bare soil and colonizing your garden space all on their own.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm, and not ill-intended.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Sitting at a baby grand piano, Mars prompted swoons with his delivery of the lyrics, his pure voice holding notes with the same muscularity as early in the show.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Several viable sites were dismissed prematurely or without adequate analysis.—
Charles Rilli,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Prolonged blackouts have draped the island and hospitals struggle with providing adequate care.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What had seemed like a good way of chilling out was actually plunging me into a kind of crisis.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
That's all well and good, and that's a huge part of the learning process.—
Bryant Reed,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With the intuitive Moon in your sign, your 1st House of Perception asks for honest self-expression without overthinking.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
More astute attention to character development, and more honest portrayals of how most of us really live.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Their kids often come across as highly regulated, well-groomed, and polite to their parents and other adults.—
Kelley King Heyworth,
Parents,
5 Apr. 2026
-
That and making sure that next time, you are seated far away from her — and near one of the unfailingly polite and pleasant women instead.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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