Definition of decentnext
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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 But any decent designer can make a pretty book cover. Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026 The little factory, which still employed 49 people, used to be a decent-sized tourist attraction. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026 Courts have done a decent job of enforcing them. Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 Our next storm system will arrive early next week with seasonal temperatures and a decent rain chance across Central Texas. Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
  • Attendees said D’Amaro came across as charming and he and Walden, who joined halfway through, had a nice rapport, with both looking happy and excited.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Elizondo, who had a nice game all around, led the Eagles with 13 points including 2 threes.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson called LaMalfa an honorable public servant and recounted the two working together to deliver help for wildfire victims.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • She's also lost her faith in England, believing that her husband and son weren't part of an honorable war, but were instead used as cannon fodder.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Hunting groups say this is an overestimation of deer numbers, and that the organization has never had a proper management plan.
    Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Darn Tough Hiker Merino Wool Crew Socks Whether hot or cold, the proper cushioned sock can help regulate temperature in shoes and keep your feet extra comfortable.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Adam Lambert Standing on the smaller, rotating stage in the middle of the room, Lambert showcased how even with his irrepressible flair, his pure voice is the star.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Cocktail making at White Bar is almost a choreographed dance and a simple orange daiquiri feels like drinking a glass of pure bright sunshine.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Being very addicted to the male gaze and being this party queen with two children felt adequate.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The income from that was adequate.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Parents can now set daily time limits or block Shorts entirely, depending on what works best for their household.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Fan and critical consensus touted Kendrick Lamar’s triumphant-if-too-breezy GNX as one of 2024’s best and most successful rap albums.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Any chats about delicate topics may feel awkward, so begin with appreciation and keep questions open to invite honest replies.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The mother of three maintains open and honest communication within her own household of women in an attempt to change the narrative about physical and personal beauty standards.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • At the center of it was Catherine, vividly sending up an entire genre of the show-business underbelly that no one ever referenced on polite middle-American network television.
    Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
  • And even then, it was couched in the polite, ambiguous language.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on decent

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