1
2
3
4
as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

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 respectable Taken together, that’s a 5- to 10-point swing in costs that has brought the respectable 10 percent or 12 percent EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin down into the doldrums of the midsingle digits. Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 The behemoth Edey had a respectable rookie season but required June ankle surgery, while undersized energizer Clarke has never played more than 64 games in his six pro seasons and doesn’t seem likely to break the streak. John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Bill was rapidly moving uphill in a slightly circuitous route that would bring him into the open a respectable distance from the bear. Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025 Gabriel had a respectable debut, throwing 190 yards and two touchdowns. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for respectable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectable
Adjective
  • Why the Longhorns’ offense is struggling How is this the offense that Sarkisian, one of the most respected offensive minds in the sport, has produced in his fifth year on the job after multiple top-10 recruiting classes?
    Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • With its activities spanning production, distribution and publishing, under the banners of Capricci Production, Capricci Films, the Sofilm magazine brand and Capricci Éditions, the Capricci Group is a respected player in France’s arthouse and indie cinema film scene.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite being deceived, Stone, who dated Garfield for four years, conceded that the actor's dedication to the secret was honorable.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This person has brought shame and disgrace to the badge and to an honorable profession.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here are six seemingly polite habits that party hosts actually dislike.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The younger woman smiling coyly, as if with a secret, while the older of the two, still young herself, anxious and polite, looks at the strange columns in the kitchen, trying not to be rude about it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Newcastle’s Under-18s are third in their league which, on the face of it, looks decent, but winning is not everything.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • There's some decent rain chances the rest of the week, so keep an umbrella handy.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Charismatic and successful military leaders like Douglas MacArthur, who refused to follow President Harry Truman’s orders during the Korean War, will always hold considerable power due to the prestige and dominance that militaries bring.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
  • In addition, New York City and Philadelphia also faced tornado watches and considerable rainfall, creating risks of flash flooding and travel delays.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Frascati, a town in the region, is renowned for its award-winning white wines, especially the prestigious DOC and DOCG Superior bottles.
    Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Another possibility is that King Charles could remove his brother's role as a knight of the prestigious Order of the Garter, per The Times.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her fashion designer husband, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud, was sentenced to five months behind bars, two years of supervised release, 250 hours of community service, and a $250,000 fine.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Be honest and then seek out stretch experiences, reading and other ways to learn to fill those gaps.
    Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • October marks the proper start of fall, and there’s no better time to plan an autumnal getaway—luckily, Amazon is overflowing with deals on everything from cozy layers to lightweight weekenders, plus hiking gear that can handle the crisp mornings.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The tour ended at a ranch, where we were greeted with cold towels, bottled water and a proper Vincy breakfast—a reward that made the early wake-up worth it.
    Essence, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Respectable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectable. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on respectable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!