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decently









Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for decently?
Decently is the adverb form of the adjective decent, which has a few main meanings: it can be used to describe a good, upstanding person (or their actions), or it can mean adequate or passable. These are the senses usually captured by the adverb. uprightly To treat others decently involves behaving uprightly, virtuously, properly, or honorably toward them. It often means treating them well, in a way that conforms to the socially accepted standard. However, decently can also mean adequately. adequately To do something decently is to do it adequately, passably, or acceptably. Saying that you’re paid decently usually means that you’re adequately compensated for your work. This implies that the pay is perhaps not great but definitely not bad—it’s decent. Words similar to this sense of decently are satisfactorily, suitably, sufficiently, and tolerably, though each has different shades of meaning, with some implying a less positive (though not necessarily negative) assessment.
What’s the difference between decently and decorously?
Decorously and decently can be synonyms in certain contexts. To behave decorously is to behave properly—according to decorum. This can mean the same thing as decently, but it’s often even more positive.
What does it mean to be decently dressed?
To be decently dressed usually means to be dressed appropriately, often in a way that’s considered not too or “immodest” or “revealing.”
What is the opposite (antonym) of decently?
Each different sense of decently has its own opposites. The direct antonym indecently is used in the context of bad behavior and poor treatment of others. To behave indecently is to behave inappropriately or improperly, often by treating someone poorly or in an unseemly way. This sense of the word often implies vulgarity or crudeness. When decently means adequately or sufficiently, opposites include inadequately and insufficiently.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Partly, that is because management has done some decently good things—not as good as they say they have, but objectively, they have done some decently good things.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Like the Sirkian melodramas of yesteryear, we go see movies like “Reminders of Him” because they’re highly entertaining — and, more often than not, decently made.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Ryan Yarbrough, 34, RP, 0.6, 5.2: Yarbrough is a swingman with a funky delivery who pitched decently for the Yankees in 2025 until suffering an oblique strain that sidelined him for nearly three months.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

Otherwise, on the court, I matched Marta well and returned decently well.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2025

At Fort Sill, his captain made note of Nathan’s faith and vouched that he’d serve as a hospital cleric or chaplain, decently removed from enemy lines.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver




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