DECENCY Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

decency

noun

ˈdē-sᵊn-sē

Definition of decency

as in etiquette

socially acceptable behavior the standards of basic decency demanded that they help the old lady with her groceries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in morality

conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong expected all of the scouts in his troop to be models of decency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 decency Public decency laws were suspended, allowing for bare knees, bare legs, and risqué (by 1920s standards) one-piece suits. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026 However, a modicum of decency four years ago would’ve gone further. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 And the solution is simply to replace the corrupt, racist authoritarian with a governing party that respects the rule of law, equality, and basic decency. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026 But this is a company that has placed profits ahead of that trust and ahead of public decency. — Tyrone E. Keys Jr, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decency

Noun

White after Labor Day is less fashion edict than old etiquette at this point.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
While the behavior was distracting, Osaka hopes that bringing tennis to a new audience overall will benefit the sport, as long as new fans learn the rules and etiquette of spectating.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of etiquette

Noun

Four years ago this week, a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Jina Amini died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s compulsory hijab rules.

— Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
In a climate which increasingly tells people in these farmers communities that those two values are not politically aligned, sustainable farmers of faith told me that Berry validated their own sense of morality.

— Sydney Giacalone, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of morality

Noun

Leah Nesbitt, a spokesperson for O’Hare, previously said the county’s decorum policy exists to allow as many voices as possible to be heard at meetings in an orderly manner.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026
Posters at The Chronicle of the Horse began, with only a little more decorum, to pick over Kanarek’s online posturing and history of disputes.

— Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of decorum

Noun

And an agreement that at the same time recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.

— Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
The vote demonstrated that cryptocurrency regulation cannot be separated from questions of political integrity, institutional authority and public confidence.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of integrity

Noun

What is striking is that all these versions agree on her shyness, modesty, and propriety.

— Eva Blanco Medina, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026
That sense of propriety was partly imposed upon him by his father, who, in covering up John’s misdeed, placed an albatross around his son’s neck, demanding his conformity to a narrow sort of principle.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of propriety

Noun

But the assumption that happiness and virtue should be systematically balanced is implied in every moral critique.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Also, in producing more original films, which push the envelope on narrative or visuals, filmmakers are making a virtue out of a market necessity.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of virtue

Noun

Of Pence, who served as vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and as governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, Sonnenfeld said Pence has displayed civility, dignity and decency throughout a lifetime of public service.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026
Ink has great fun dramatizing how the staid postwar consensus — a world of snobbery, dignity, and unions — was eclipsed by The Sun’s muscular populism.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of dignity

Browse Nearby Words

decelerations

decency

decent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Decency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decency. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of decency

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nemesis

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes