1
as in nice
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
as decent and kind a couple as you could ever hope to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honorable
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
demanded nothing less than decent behavior by the troops serving overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in proper
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
decent clothing for someone attending a funeral, if only as a friend of a friend
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4
as in pure
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent
students were warned that their skits could be funny but still had to remain decent
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5
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decent
Eric delivered a decent spiel about sperm motility as a proxy for health and how sperm racing drew attention to important issues.
—
Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Keem’s sparkless performances trip up an otherwise decent concept record with an autobiographical bent.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Attendance was off just 2 percent, though, at 242,027, suggesting that a decent turnout for much of the week helped offset those Sunday night cancellations caused by the 18-inch pile-up.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
Apart from at the 3-point line, Detroit made a concerted effort to stifle Wembanyama and did a decent job, holding him to 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Keem’s sparkless performances trip up an otherwise decent concept record with an autobiographical bent.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Attendance was off just 2 percent, though, at 242,027, suggesting that a decent turnout for much of the week helped offset those Sunday night cancellations caused by the 18-inch pile-up.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
Apart from at the 3-point line, Detroit made a concerted effort to stifle Wembanyama and did a decent job, holding him to 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
-
Neemias Queta made all three of his field goals in the opening quarter, including a nice turnaround hook shot over Jokic and a last-second alley-oop from Pritchard, whose penchant for buzzer-beaters likely drew Denver’s attention away from the lurking big man.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The Executive Rooms have cushy beds, nice hardwood floors, spa showers, jetted tubs, a super-ergonomic office chair, and energizing views of Metcalfe Street.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Being conspicuous by his absence is not an honorable action, and will be remembered.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Kramer and Fauci—their honorable disagreements, their curiosity about each other’s worldview, their good-faith debate—were the real show, all along.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Ryan said Thursday that the man had been wearing orange booties issued by the county holding center, rather than proper shoes suitable for winter weather.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Detainees at the black box sites, some of whom are seriously wounded, do not receive medical care, do not have access to proper toilet facilities and are not logged in official records, raising the chances of torture or even death, Aban said.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And the Cubists picked up on that in the twentieth century and abstracted from his landscapes, making pure Cubist constructions in which the optical space on the canvas—very similar to Cezanne’s—was composed of little abstract blocks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The show traces the evolution of Armani Privé since its Paris debut in 2005, highlighting pure lines, precious fabrics and jewel-like embroidery.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All managers of these districts would have to do is deem that there is no publication in their county adequate for the legal notice.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
When securing adequate supplies was discussed, the conversation was unserious.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The steep declines this week showed just how on edge investors are regarding AI — even when the news is good, or when doomsday scenarios are completely made out of thin air.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Garna showed some really good things in my time.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
November 22 – December 21 Home could feel clearer after one honest chat.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Home could feel clearer after one honest chat.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The service The staff is efficient, polite, and friendly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This more loosely prescribed tradition stems partly from our big Southern families full of siblings and cousins, as well as partly from how Southerners are polite to a fault—and don’t ever want to leave anyone out.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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