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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 In all, the 32 shows on Broadway took in a decent $38,189,430 for the week ending October 19, a slip of about 3% from the previous week but up 12% from last year at this time. Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025 Put your phone away First, decenter your phone in your life, says Arnold. Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025 For now, there’s decent money in it for slop merchants. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025 There are signs the economy remains relatively solid with a low unemployment rate, stock market gains and decent economic growth, yet the public continues to be skeptical about the economy’s health. Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
  • This one, for example, has fun detailing on the sleeves and a nice roomy fit that looks as comfortable as a sweatshirt.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Bills come due, eventually, in every sense, though reported name, image and likeness earnings nearing $2 million at Utah are a nice buffer.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite being deceived, Stone, who dated Garfield for four years, conceded that the actor's dedication to the secret was honorable.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This person has brought shame and disgrace to the badge and to an honorable profession.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • October marks the proper start of fall, and there’s no better time to plan an autumnal getaway—luckily, Amazon is overflowing with deals on everything from cozy layers to lightweight weekenders, plus hiking gear that can handle the crisp mornings.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The tour ended at a ranch, where we were greeted with cold towels, bottled water and a proper Vincy breakfast—a reward that made the early wake-up worth it.
    Essence, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Always test the paint on a pure white backdrop so underlying colors don’t distort the white shade.
    Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, this is hardly ideal for a defensive line that’s been only adequate outside of defensive end Boubacar Traore.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The longer-term consequences on a generation of struggling children taught without adequate support — or via hybrid education — are also not yet clear, says Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
    Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her fashion designer husband, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud, was sentenced to five months behind bars, two years of supervised release, 250 hours of community service, and a $250,000 fine.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Be honest and then seek out stretch experiences, reading and other ways to learn to fill those gaps.
    Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For architecture fans, the hotel can help set up journeys to pagods and temples over 700 years old; other excursions on offer include trips to floating fishing villages such as Cửa Vạn and Vung Viêng and ethical pearl cultivation.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Courts have occasionally removed government lawyers from cases when an actual conflict of interest or serious ethical violation was proven.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The 2025 study showed that when users dropped the polite fluff and went straight to the point, ChatGPT's accuracy ticked upward.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
  • And while offering to help clean up is polite, Jokilehto says there’s a right way to do it.
    Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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