decorous

adjective

ˈde-kər-əs How to pronounce decorous (audio)
Definition of decorousnext
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

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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

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 decorous Pentagon leaders have almost always publicly couched the military’s use of violence in decorous euphemisms designed to show the solemnity of lethality. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026 Paul has to buck the prevailing suffragist movement led by Carrie Chapman Catt, whose methods are more decorous and patient. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2026 The hearings are usually decorous affairs, where anger is routine but controlled. — David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 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
  1. polite
  2. formal
  3. proper
  4. ceremonious
  5. respectable
  6. nice
  7. satisfactory
  8. correct
Adjective
  • The thankful and polite, yet rowdy Post Malone was preceded onstage Wednesday by first opening artist Carter Faith and part-coheadliner, part-opener Jelly Roll .
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
  • The service The staff are polite and attentive, and will provide thoughtful touches, such as leaving birthday cakes for guests.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • Washington responded by turning its assurance into a formal guarantee, though one signed as an executive order a successor can revoke.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Anderson’s neighbors, Matt and Laurel Nelson, needed to meet that threshold to move the case to a formal hearing on their complaint against the county manager.
    — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • The under-21s returned for pre-season last Monday, initially for testing before their first proper day of training on Thursday.
    — Andy Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • This is just what Harley had built – an out-of-the-box pro-drag bike complete with slicks, wheelie bars, a hissing air-shifter and a proper multi-stage clutch set-up specifically for the drag strip.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
Definition of proper
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
  • 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
Definition of ceremonious
Adjective
  • Asking the people with the least protection to spend the most courage is the most respectable alibi available to anyone with a title.
    — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The outright leader after Round 1, Suber posted a more-than-respectable second day 69.
    — Justin Ray, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • There’s a difference between a need-to-have and a nice-to-have, though, and both Murgio and Erman Ozguven agree there are good reasons to evacuate further than just a few miles inland.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • On nice days, customers can sit on the rooftop among the outdoor sculpture garden and their meals will be brought to their table.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • The fifth season will have a really hard time wrapping up everything in a satisfactory way at this point.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Kelley said the company believed the existing easement was satisfactory and wasn’t told otherwise until after investing years of work on he project.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • That report was correct, Swinehart said, but Smith told staff to release a statement saying Smith herself had trained Nicole Tepper.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Given the biases of the ICC, Secretary of State Rubio is correct in going after it.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of correct

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decorative
decorous
decorously
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Cite this Entry

“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of decorous for Spanish Speakers

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