1
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
the standards of basic decency demanded that they help the old lady with her groceries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong
expected all of the scouts in his troop to be models of decency
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decency
Basil reveals himself not through his biography but through his concern for others and his basic decency.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to make a distinction between a person’s politics and their basic human decency.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2025
That sense of love leaves her willing to do anything within the realm of reason and human decency for her partner — but naturally, that’s not good enough for the kind of guy who seriously considers investing in an android lover.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
But for all his basic decency, history may come to remember him for another trait: hubris.
—Douglas Brinkley, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decency
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to make a distinction between a person’s politics and their basic human decency.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2025
That sense of love leaves her willing to do anything within the realm of reason and human decency for her partner — but naturally, that’s not good enough for the kind of guy who seriously considers investing in an android lover.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
But for all his basic decency, history may come to remember him for another trait: hubris.
—Douglas Brinkley, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decency
Noun
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Trump’s election has only solidified the new legal framework for what is permissible when considering race and gender in hiring, promotion, and workplace etiquette.—
Casey Harper | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
15 Feb. 2025
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Plane etiquette seems so simple — be spatially aware, don’t bother other passengers and follow the instructions of the air crew.—
Bella Stoddart,Monica Pitrelli,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Both Ford and Mirren warn that Whitfield’s endless means and lack of morality will continue to bring a different kind of beast to the Duttons’ doorstep.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
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The morality of being a missileer – and minister David Feddern was also a missileer here in Echo-01.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Others try to maintain decorum by long-striding into the queue.—
Nick Robins-Early,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
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According to a LinkedIn article, public interactions have become increasingly harsh, with some attributing it to stress, cultural shifts and a decline in patience for those who do not fit personal expectations of decorum.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Dissatisfaction with Lewis reached a peak in June, when two Pulitzer Prize-winning Post journalists called for a leadership change amid the reports that questioned Lewis’ journalistic integrity, undermining the Post’s reputation and reporting alike.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
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In July 2023, the industry group sued the E.P.A., as well as the National Academies, accusing researchers of a lack of scientific integrity.—
Hiroko Tabuchi,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Here, Gomez speaks with Variety about the propriety of the FCC’s actions and the potential harm that may come to broadcast journalism.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2025
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But Musk is operating in the wide open, where everyone can see and judge for themselves the propriety of his place beside the president.—
Nolan Finley,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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About two dozen trustees serve by virtue of their government office, such as the librarian of Congress, the secretary of state, the mayor of Washington and the speaker and the minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.—
E. Andrew Taylor,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2025
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Using satirical allegory, broad farce, horror and violence, the visionary Korean master has made a string of standout genre films that double as subversive takes on sociopolitical rot, from Memories of Murder to The Host, Snowpiercer to Parasite, frequently making a virtue of tonal whiplash.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Prioritizing High-Potential, High-Risk Populations While the strategies – and rhetoric – vary, every Administration in modern history has embraced the goal of creating jobs that offer dignity and economic stability in order to shore up America’s economic position and maximizing our human capital.—
Maria Flynn,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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The Trump administration has made the border a zone that is overtly hostile to human rights and displays utter disregard for the humanity and dignity of people on the move.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And there are those who think in terms of justice and honesty.—
Joshua Yaffa,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
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When both partners commit to honesty and vulnerability, passive-aggression loses its power, reviving true intimacy. 2.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decency. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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