decency — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The quality of being decent; propriety.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   integrityprobityproprietyrectitudeuprightness

   Examples

   Immodest words admit of no defence, / For want of decency is want of sense.

   More examples (1)

   Indeed it is for the moſt part in our ſkill in manners, and in the obſervances of time and place, and of decency in general, which is only to be learned in thoſe ſchools to which Horace recommends us, that what is called Taſte by way of diſtinction, conſiſts; and which is in reality no other than a more refined judgment.

   [To Joseph McCarthy:] Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

   More examples (1)

   Now, what is interesting about that poem is nothing. But, what is relevant about it is that his muse is his wife, Marcela, who is 42 years younger than him. He is 75, she is 33. And I’ll say this, at least when 70-something American politicians get creepily handsy with 30-something women, they have the decency to do so with their own daughters. Have some class, Brazil! Have some class!

2. That which is proper or becoming.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Those thousand decencies, that daily flow / From all her words and actions.

   More examples (1)

   'Tis in the Civil Government, as in the Offices of Religion; which, were they ſtript of all the External Decencies of Worſhip, would not make a due Impreſſion on the Minds of thoſe who aſſiſt at them.

Noun

1. the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality

   Antonyms

   indecency

   Broader terms

   proprietypropernesscorrectitude

2. the quality of being polite and respectable

   Broader terms

   respectabilityreputability