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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Who decides what’s decorous and what’s vulgar?
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 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
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 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
-
Tucked away off Lagos’ Admiralty Way main road, you’d be forgiven for mistaking its polite green exterior for something residential upon viewing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Niall was upset but very polite.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jason Ignacio White, a former Noma chef and fermentation director, delivered a formal demand letter to Redzepi calling for industry reform, including fair wages, the end of unpaid labor and stronger protections against harassment and retaliation.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Defense attorneys have argued that antifa is an ideology and not a formal organization to which the defendants belong.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Unable to afford a proper burial, the victim’s husband and daughter have created a GoFundMe to help pay for services.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Other clips don’t even bother rendering a proper baby.—
Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12,
Futurism,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
More convincing in the film is cinematographer Talant Akynbekov’s observant, almost ceremonious lensing of carpet weaving, as well as of the beats of everyday life, sometimes accompanied by the traditional tunes villagers hum.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
23 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The 2026 model, with the M5 Max and Liquid Retina XDR display, hit 96% of the DCI-P3 color space and a respectable 86% of Adobe RGB.—
Brian Westover,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Monday was looking like a tough day at the office for Garrett Crochet, but the Red Sox ace battled back and finished off a respectable third outing of the spring in Monday’s 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While everyone was nice enough and ready to help when asked, the service is a bit more hands-off.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Each bonkers bit is a nice reminder not to take anything too seriously.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While Adam Poole facially resembles Scheider, he is only allowed to do so much and does so in a satisfactory way.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The regulations allow the stewards to take other circumstances, like satisfactory lap times, into consideration.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Nowlan is absolutely correct about the suffering and heartache caused by gambling disorders, which lead directly to bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure and suicide.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Only 43% made the correct decision about next steps, such as whether to go to the emergency room or stay home.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
