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.

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.

To be decently dressed usually means to be dressed appropriately, often in a way that’s considered not too or “immodest” or “revealing.”

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.