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decent
[ dee-suhnt ]
adjective
- conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.
Synonyms: decorous, proper, seemly
Antonyms: unseemly
- respectable; worthy:
a decent family.
- adequate; fair; passable:
a decent wage.
- kind; obliging; generous:
It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.
- suitable; appropriate:
She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.
Antonyms: inappropriate
- of fairly attractive appearance:
a decent face.
- Informal. wearing enough clothing to appear in public.
- Slang. great; wonderful.
decent
/ ˈdiːsənt /
adjective
- polite or respectable
a decent family
- proper and suitable; fitting
a decent burial
- conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent
- free of oaths, blasphemy, etc
decent language
- good or adequate
a decent wage
- informal.kind; generous
he was pretty decent to me
- informal.sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people
are you decent?
Derived Forms
- ˈdecently, adverb
- ˈdecentness, noun
Other Words From
- decent·ly adverb
- decent·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of decent1
Example Sentences
One rice cake lover suggested to the Chicago Tribune that rice cakes topped with beans were better than tacos, a statement that suggests that person had never had a decent taco.
Any person who can still support this man is not a decent human being, period.
Only after the migrants settled and had years to claw back a decent life did some towns bounce back stronger.
In a series where Miami was comfortable letting anyone other than Giannis do that, it would have mattered a decent amount, I’d think.
The 11-megapixel shooter is decent enough for selfies, but taking a regular picture requires folding the Surface Duo with both screens facing out, and correctly pointing the side with the camera at the desired subject.
Almost everyone there will be a decent person and treat you well.
She assured me he was a decent human being and the love of her life.
I vividly recall, that day and the weeks afterward, people groping for a decent way forward.
I finish a decent game, type my initials, and decide to call it quits.
The problem is that being a decent person in an indecent situation is not enough, even though it may also be all you can do.
If I could catch Laura's eye—but I suppose it would hardly be decent to go just yet.
Both had appealed to Napoleon; consequently there was a decent pretext for sending a French army into Spain.
Good place to lop about, y' know; a decent place to sit, and a few books and cards and that sort of thing.
Never smoke when the pores are open: they absorb, and you are unfit for decent society.
For at least ten years previous to 1901, San Francisco had enjoyed a period of not only decent but honorable government.
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Related Words
Decent Vs. Descent
What’s the difference between decent and descent?
Decent is an adjective that means adequate or suitable, as in a decent meal, or good or respectable, as in a decent person. Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general.
Despite their similar spelling, the two words are pronounced differently. In decent, the emphasis is on the first part of the word, which is pronounced like dee. In descent, the emphasis is on the -scent part of the word, with the first part pronounced like dih.
So how can you remember which one gets the s? Dropping the s is the decent thing to do, but you should pick it back up for your descent.
Here’s an example of descent and dissent used correctly in a sentence.
Example: The climbers decided to make the descent while the weather was still decent.
Quiz yourself on decent vs. descent!
Should decent or descent be used in the following sentence?
The plane’s rapid _____ was caused by a faulty engine.
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