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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decent
Two tropical waves with decent chances of developing into something stronger are swirling in the Atlantic, while Hurricane Gabrielle slips to the east of Bermuda over the next few days as a Category 3 — the second major storm of the season.
—
Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
This weekend, Leeds beat hosts Wolves fairly comfortably, Burnley got a decent home point against Nottingham Forest and Sunderland came from behind, with 10 men, to draw with visiting Villa.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Ordinary people trying to be decent.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
But again, Robbie’s a decent matchup for him.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decent
Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
This weekend, Leeds beat hosts Wolves fairly comfortably, Burnley got a decent home point against Nottingham Forest and Sunderland came from behind, with 10 men, to draw with visiting Villa.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Ordinary people trying to be decent.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
But again, Robbie’s a decent matchup for him.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
-
These aren't nice-to-haves anymore.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The futon mattress is comfortable and has a nice weight distribution thanks to the pocket springs wrapped in polyester fiber.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mason is an honorable man who has fallen on hard times and is desperately trying to keep from losing the family ranch.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Just a remarkable honorable man that was silenced by this assassin's bullet.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the filing, Clark said the nurse failed to provide proper medical care to other patients at the Missouri hospital, adding that another hospital in Phoenix had also terminated her due to patient safety concerns.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Per my grandmother’s advice, making the perfect pancakes on a countertop griddle comes down to maintaining a steady not-too-hot temperature and having a proper non-stick surface.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But pure biodiesel isn’t typically used to fuel engines; instead, it’s added as a blend, mixed in with traditional diesel made from petroleum.—
Molly Duerig,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
-
While Bosa has an array of pass rush moves, at this point Williams is pure power and an edge setter and only beginning to refine his abilities as an edge rusher.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The engine is adequate but not speedy, especially in non-hybrid trims, and some rivals beat it on handling or driving engagement.—
Josh Max,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Leafy greens, nuts, and legumes provide adequate magnesium, too.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet Chaeyoung has resisted them, grounding herself in memories that took root in childhood and continuing an honest dialogue with her inner self ever since her debut.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is honest about where Kim stands as his rookie season winds down and the postseason looms.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, and ethical reasoning.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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There will be people who may address the ethical concerns of filming someone during an extended breakdown.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This 'polite verbal wrestling' (Rafiee, 1991) involves a delicate dance of offer and refusal, insistence and resistance, which shapes everyday interactions in Iranian culture, creating implicit rules for how generosity, gratitude, and requests are expressed.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
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The staff — all the way up to the captain — have no such luxury, and will just have to be polite and soldier on, if that is the right phrase for naval personnel.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
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