1
: marked by moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill
hard-working and decent folks
it's very decent of them to help
2
3
: free from immodesty or obscenity
decent language
4
: fairly good : adequate, satisfactory
decent wages
5
decently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of decent in a Sentence
Not long afterward, his father's health starts to fail. Mrs. Queenan has kicked him out, and he's landed in a flophouse. When word reaches Joe, he takes out his checkbook and moves his father into a decent apartment.
—
James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 26 Apr. 2009
In a whiney, rambling speech at his sentencing he took a page from the script of the earlier case, once again portraying himself as a flawed but decent man unfairly caught up in circumstances.
—Bill Hewitt et al., People, 22 Dec. 2008
Tommy Railles, the doctor's boy. Just a great kid. Smart at school, a decent athlete, great with the girls, wonderful with older people.
—Ward Just, Forgetfulness, (2006) 2007
The next time an overly friendly blond sidles up in a crowded bar and asks you to order her a brand-name martini, or a cheery tourist couple wonder whether you can take their picture with their sleek new camera-in-a-cell phone, you might want to think twice. There's a decent chance that these strangers are pitchmen in disguise, paid to oh-so-subtly pique your interest in their product.
—Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
I don't understand how so decent a person could be involved with this kind of crime.
He is a decent guy who would help anyone in need.
You need to do the decent thing and tell her what happened.
Are there any decent schools in that area?
I've got to get some decent clothes.
James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 26 Apr. 2009
In a whiney, rambling speech at his sentencing he took a page from the script of the earlier case, once again portraying himself as a flawed but decent man unfairly caught up in circumstances.
—Bill Hewitt et al., People, 22 Dec. 2008
Tommy Railles, the doctor's boy. Just a great kid. Smart at school, a decent athlete, great with the girls, wonderful with older people.
—Ward Just, Forgetfulness, (2006) 2007
The next time an overly friendly blond sidles up in a crowded bar and asks you to order her a brand-name martini, or a cheery tourist couple wonder whether you can take their picture with their sleek new camera-in-a-cell phone, you might want to think twice. There's a decent chance that these strangers are pitchmen in disguise, paid to oh-so-subtly pique your interest in their product.
—Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
I don't understand how so decent a person could be involved with this kind of crime.
He is a decent guy who would help anyone in need.
You need to do the decent thing and tell her what happened.
Are there any decent schools in that area?
I've got to get some decent clothes.
Recent Examples on the Web
If Williams gets decent protection and can hang in the pocket, receivers D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen and tight end Cole Kmet are capable of making plays.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
To be clear, longer-term measures of breadth are still in decent shape.
—David Keller, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
According to Adam Millard-Ball, an urban planning professor who studies autonomous cars, the past 15 years of Uber and Lyft should offer a decent preview of how robotaxis will affect traffic.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
Once Trump won, decent outcomes for the country were probably off the table.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decent 
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Steve Silverman, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
To be clear, longer-term measures of breadth are still in decent shape.
—David Keller, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
According to Adam Millard-Ball, an urban planning professor who studies autonomous cars, the past 15 years of Uber and Lyft should offer a decent preview of how robotaxis will affect traffic.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
Once Trump won, decent outcomes for the country were probably off the table.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decent
Dictionary Entries Near decent
Cite this Entry
“Decent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decent. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decent
adjective
de·cent
ˈdēs-ᵊnt 
1
a
: agreeing with standards of proper behavior, good taste, or morality
b
: clothed in a proper and suitable manner and style
2
: free from poor taste or bad manners
our conversations were always decent, never obscene
3
: fairly good : adequate
decent housing
decently
adverb
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