DECENT Synonyms: 354 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

decent

adjective

ˈdē-sᵊnt

Definition of decent next

as in nice

conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue as decent and kind a couple as you could ever hope to meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in honorable

following the accepted rules of moral conduct demanded nothing less than decent behavior by the troops serving overseas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in proper

following the established traditions of refined society and good taste decent clothing for someone attending a funeral, if only as a friend of a friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pure

free from any trace of the coarse or indecent students were warned that their skits could be funny but still had to remain decent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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 And since Apple likes to keep a decent distance between prices, that points to an $899 sticker, for the Air, the same as the iPhone 16 Plus right now. —

David Phelan, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 That’s also a decent characterization of the year that was, which in our corner of the New York universe included more bad boys being exposed, Megalopolis fever, the unsettling encroachment of AI, and the invigorating ubiquity of Brat (the album) and brat (the ethos). —

Vulture Editors, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024 Multiple rounds of snow tend to build a decent snowpack in the mountains of the West and Northeast by late December, but sometimes this blanket of snow is found only in the highest elevations where not many people live. —

Mary Gilbert, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024 Best of all, this coat comes in a decent size range, including plus sizes. —

Jessie Quinn, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decent

Adjective

Easter is a professional ecologist and leverages his experience in carbon accounting and profound understanding of nature’s interconnectedness to explain the ecological impact of each ingredient served at a nice dinner.

Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
The coating can be a little uneven, with some parts thin and crisp and others clumpy, but overall the tenders offer a nice crunch.

Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024