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
Relevance
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
Readers of the novel will recognize this as the character of Tova — the widow whose quiet grief and stubborn decency anchor the story.
—
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
And just as a matter of human decency.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Not an ounce of human empathy, not a shred of human decency.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decency
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
And just as a matter of human decency.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Not an ounce of human empathy, not a shred of human decency.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decency
Noun
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The bundle also includes specialty courses like ASL for babies and toddlers — helpful for early communication — along with scuba diving hand signals and an introductory e-book on the origins and etiquette of sign language.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Good ex-etiquette doesn’t require emotional intimacy with your ex.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Banksy has courted a public image centered around morality, justice and guerrilla tactics — he’s often likened to Robin Hood or Batman.—
Laurie Kellman,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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But Banksy has courted a public image centered around morality, justice and guerrilla tactics — he’s often likened to Robin Hood or Batman.—
Laurie Kellman,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Graves said redistricting in his home state, nor the breakdown in decorum and hyper-partisanship of Congress, factored into his decision to retire.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
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In more recent times, civil-military frictions have consisted almost entirely of civilian leaders pushing the military up to or over the bounds of traditional decorum or even the law.—
Kori Schake,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Speak up to create results that show integrity.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
His message centered heavily on election integrity, a theme that has become a cornerstone of his campaign.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her wealthy new family refuses to extend any of their access or connections to Annie; to them, friendship is nowhere near as important as propriety.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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And a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One of Lerner’s virtues as a writer is that his work resists this relentless gathering of data (news, text messages, posts), a gathering that’s both abundant and diffuse, and that, paradoxically, feels like a giving over of one’s mind and capacities to fuzzy abstraction.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Leo on Monday signed the decree attesting that Flanagan lived a life of heroic virtue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The commitment to repatriation reflects a broader emphasis on treating human remains with dignity regardless of their age or the circumstances of their discovery.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
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The discovery serves as a reminder that even ordinary projects like home renovations can unearth the extraordinary — and that every set of remains, no matter how old, deserves to be treated with dignity and care.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When Saint Harison released his EP Lost a Friend in 2023, the songs felt like diary entries set to velvet production, full of intimate spiraling and steeped in late-night honesty.—
Gabrielle Nicole Pharms,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
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Jacobs is a real find as Matt, exhibiting a touch of honesty and authenticity that matches his co-star’s in every way.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decency. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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