Antonyms for decently


Grammar : Adv
Spell : dee-suhnt
Phonetic Transcription : ˈdi sənt


Definition of decently

Origin :
  • 1530s, "proper to one's station or rank," also "tasteful," from Middle French décent, or directly from Latin decentem (nominative decens) "becoming, seemly, fitting, proper," present participle of decere "to be fitting or suitable," from PIE *deke-, from root *dek- "to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable" (cf. Greek dokein "to appear, seem, think," dekhesthai "to accept;" Sanskrit daÅ›asyati "shows honor, is gracious," dacati "makes offerings, bestows;" Latin docere "to teach," decus "grace, ornament"). Meaning "kind, pleasant" is from 1902. Are you decent? (1949) was originally backstage theater jargon for "are you dressed."
  • As in justly : adv fairly
  • As in right : adv fairly, justly
  • As in morally : adv in accordance with accepted standards of conduct
  • As in adequately : adv sufficiently
  • As in correctly : adv right
  • As in enough : adv adequately
Example sentences :
  • And one always had a better time of it when one was decently dressed.
  • Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
  • Why can't he work at these things—or why can't his secretaries prime him decently!
  • Extract from : « The Coryston Family » by Mrs. Humphry Ward
  • He just wanted to be decently quiet about things that aren't pretty!
  • Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine
  • He got away as soon as he could decently do so, and went back to Bloomsbury.
  • Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine
  • With Dr. Finlay I had had a home but only money enough to clothe me decently.
  • Extract from : « An Orkney Maid » by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
  • He must produce and must consume with his family, reasonably, decently and thriftily.
  • Extract from : « Creating Capital » by Frederick L. Lipman
  • He stayed my watch out for me, and I hope I was decently grateful.
  • Extract from : « Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete » by Albert Bigelow Paine
  • His father had been the Vakeel of the place and the child of course had been decently reared.
  • Extract from : « Recollections » by David Christie Murray
  • The newspaper man made his stay as brief as he decently could.
  • Extract from : « Plotting in Pirate Seas » by Francis Rolt-Wheeler
  • Do what you like with the Jew, so long as you put him decently away when you have finished.
  • Extract from : « Little Novels of Italy » by Maurice Henry Hewlett

Synonyms for decently

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019