1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
we were asked to be on our most decorous behavior at the formal event
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
the oppressively decorous standards of a royal court
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decorous
The affair grows less decorous in farcical scenes of upstairs and downstairs life — kitchen staff toiling away on blunts, a trigger-happy shooting party, and cockney pub patrons breaking out in song — and the various side plots.
—
Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2025
The hearings are usually decorous affairs, where anger is routine but controlled.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, Julie Rotblatt Amrany got the flying ponytail right and delivered a decorous portrayal that was well received.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
The teenager, who spoke in hushed, decorous bursts, had months earlier shot rats near a friend’s camp in Manchac, dressed the carcasses (an intricate process, given the animal’s size), and frozen their haunches.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decorous
Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2025
The hearings are usually decorous affairs, where anger is routine but controlled.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, Julie Rotblatt Amrany got the flying ponytail right and delivered a decorous portrayal that was well received.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
The teenager, who spoke in hushed, decorous bursts, had months earlier shot rats near a friend’s camp in Manchac, dressed the carcasses (an intricate process, given the animal’s size), and frozen their haunches.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decorous
Adjective
-
Remember to keep your communication polite and to the point.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Your detailed paper trail, photos and polite escalation to a company executive should all work in your favor.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The service At the health clinic, in the restaurants, and throughout the property, the service is deferential and fastidious without being overwhelmingly formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
With four stories and 35 rooms, Joslyn has opulence built, inlaid, and planted in every corner, from its carriage house tower to its gold drawing room and five acres of formal estate gardens.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Officials said Lopez played a key leadership role during recent wildfires, helping coordinate crews to ensure schools had proper air filtration systems in place.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The restaurant will age all of its meat for a minimum of 28 days and then cook it in a high-temperature broiler for proper searing.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Caligula selected respectable family men of good reputation, who were conspicuous for some physical disability, for a mock fight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
On Sunday evening, a respectable crowd showed up in the Mojave Tent to pay their respects to the Godfather of Punk, who first played Coachella in a reunion with the Stooges in 2003.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
So borrowing those things on Buy Nothing is really nice.—
Dania Maxwell,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Both Guerrero and Offerman were full of nice things to say about Kidman, who had just one day to shoot her wrestling scene and the previous day to rehearse it, for which Guerrero flew to Nashville to train with Kidman in a boxing gym alongside her stunt double, former wrestler Danielle Moinet.—
Scarlett Harris,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The defense was more than satisfactory in subduing the league’s top offense.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Be sure to triple-check that the details are satisfactory before signing anything.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Intelligence is basically anything with a pretty clear definition between the set of correct and incorrect answers—think tasks in coding, mathematics, physics, and even some tasks in accounting, law, or medicine.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Unfortunately, those assumptions proved correct.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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