1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
the standards of basic decency demanded that they help the old lady with her groceries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of decency
But the former controller, despite her air of competence and decency, hasn’t been able to attract support above the low single digits.
—
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Or your high school civics teacher, dressed up as a rock god to impart a lesson about basic decency?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
His anomalous body lacked decency.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Their actions are a gut punch to American values and human decency.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decency
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Or your high school civics teacher, dressed up as a rock god to impart a lesson about basic decency?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
His anomalous body lacked decency.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Their actions are a gut punch to American values and human decency.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decency
Noun
-
Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Get the answer to these questions and more plant shopping etiquette from a nursery expert so can shop nurseries with confidence, and save some time and money, too.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
One that imposes a particular morality or one that imposes civil order?—
Charles F. Miller,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In my life, up until that time, there had been a sense of decorum expected in the Presidential campaigns.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing to see here, although neither her lawyer nor her accountant’s name are known and when asked for such information, Omar can strike out with the decorum of a sailor on leave.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But will the changes be enough to restore the competitive integrity of the game once and for all?—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Since returning to the White House, his administration has aggressively challenged journalistic norms, and the president has continued attacking the integrity and competence of major news organizations.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kay also challenged the propriety of statements made by the prosecutor during her closing arguments.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In that competition, loyalty is an expensive virtue.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But patience can sometimes be a death knell in the playoffs, and Game 4 showed how a lack of it can be a virtue.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Before investing millions more yen in robotic experiments, the next policy response might be to meaningfully lift wages as part of a broader effort to restore dignity and status to the work itself.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
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The hospice movement that emerged in the latter half of the last century improved conditions for patients in the later years of life, replacing sterile, clinical hospital settings with holistic care centered on pain management, dignity, and quality of life.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That includes not wanting to help people through tactful honesty.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Moon settles into your 4th House of Home, where honesty builds trust quickly.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decency. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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