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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 How to Avoid Online Dating Scams How to Avoid Online Dating Scams Final Thoughts Raw 3.0 Average Raw has a decent foundation for a free dating app, thanks to its photo hook that makes the community feel like a place for honest romance. PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 Additionally, the state’s jungle primary system, in which the two candidates who receive the most votes in the June 2026 primary move on to the general election regardless of party, mean Republicans have a decent shot of securing one of the spots on the November ballot. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 In comedy, Nobody Wants This made a decent showing at precursors like the Golden Globes and Critics Choice, but Netflix will have to revive that show’s buzz now that it’s faded. Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2025 Both of these teams are off to decent starts, as Detroit leads the AL Central and the Yanks have, ahem, torpedoeed their way to a 6-5 record thus far. Chris Branch, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent
Adjective
  • It’s made of a tarp-like material that feels pretty durable and the lid zippers, which is nice to contain smells.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Ice is not nice The ice at American Airlines Center was a huge problem in Game 2, with players on both teams falling down left and right.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Court documents show Blankenship has been employed by the city since 2006 following his honorable discharge from the Coast Guard.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • White Painted Woman was a model of heroism and honorable womanhood: When evil monsters were hunting the Apache people, the White Painted Woman gave birth to a son who would destroy the creatures to help make Earth inhabitable for humanity.
    Alejandra Rubio, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Just cut the tubing to the proper length and wrap it around the cables.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • By advocating for proper funding, schools will be able to take innovative approaches to increasing literacy rates, as well as seeing gains in math.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Kiper calls him the best pure guard in the draft, a road-grader in the run game.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Booker seems like the top pure guard in this year's draft class, making his overall positional value lower.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But as the mental health conditions among youth have become increasingly severe following the COVID-19 pandemic, more families are turning to desperate measures to find adequate care for their children.
    Michaela Ramm, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Although emergency departments might have adequate staff at off times, other hospital resources might be limited at night and on weekends, which could be a problem in these emergencies, Johns said.
    Neha Mukherjee, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And, to be honest, her description of the breakup at that time sounded a lot more amicable than it’s been sounding lately.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But only if leaders have the appetite for that kind of honest data.
    Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Many organizations are actively working on ethical AI frameworks to address bias and ensure fair, transparent decision-making processes.
    Chaitanya Laxminarayana, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Maintaining an open dialogue around these issues is necessary to balance rapid technological advancement with crucial ethical and societal considerations.
    Francis Hellyer, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Wear old clothes and shoes Bring flashlights Watch for sharp objects Avoid food waste Wash your hands Be polite and cooperate if you are asked to leave The Fresno Bee 559-441-6005 Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter.
    Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Which felt like a polite way of saying the same thing.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decent. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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