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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 Of course, the identity of that decent captain remains up in the air. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 May 2025 Though there are maybe a handful of decent jokes, the video is seven minutes of setups and few punchlines. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025 The main camera does a decent job of capturing photos. PC Magazine, 15 May 2025 Edwards landed a decent percentage of his strikes at 66 percent, but the pressure from Muhammad limited his attempts to just 71 significant strikes. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
  • While the formula played nice with the sensitive skin on our tester’s hairline, its toning effects only lasted a few days.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 16 May 2025
  • The Half Dome comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days, and nice to have.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Quang enjoyed a successful pharmaceutical sales stint as a top producer for Astra/Merck and then Genentech.
    Quang X. Pham, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Instead, most of Bernadette’s assumptions — that working the border is an honorable act, or that a federal position will imbue her with more authority, or that all Native people will have the same opinions and the same goals — are upended over the course of the season.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The helmsman, feeling swells beneath the vessel, gleans the proper heading, even in the dark.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
  • In other cases, cut back on watering your indoor plants and install proper drainage in moisture-prone areas like the basement or crawlspace.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Transform any rejection into pure business motivation and wins.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • When something appears that stems from a pure love of music, inevitably, the existing structures begin to crumble.
    Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Because there is no remedy for migrants who have already been deported, the ACLU lawyers asked the Supreme Court to provide guidance to lower courts about what measures are required for adequate notice to contest deportations.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Employees did not have adequate knowledge of manual ware-washing procedures as well as proper cooling, holding and sanitizer concentration.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Log in Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
    Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
  • There has been no new-manager bounce, but instead a series of very honest press conferences about how long the United rebuild could take.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some question whether the interest in crime content is ethical, but Golub said there are a lot of different reasons people are interested.
    Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
  • However, that price reflects the cost of ethical production.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • This case involves the Hatchet Girls, a cult that follows a bloodthirsty leader intent on giving polite society hell.
    Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
  • What is a polite way to refuse a hug with friends or strangers?
    Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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