decorous

adjective

ˈde-kər-əs How to pronounce decorous (audio)
Definition of decorousnext
1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste we were asked to be on our most decorous behavior at the formal event

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details the oppressively decorous standards of a royal court

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decorous But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Its decorous leaves are not even an inch long. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026 Pentagon leaders have almost always publicly couched the military’s use of violence in decorous euphemisms designed to show the solemnity of lethality. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026 Paul has to buck the prevailing suffragist movement led by Carrie Chapman Catt, whose methods are more decorous and patient. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decorous
  1. polite
  2. formal
  3. proper
  4. ceremonious
  5. respectable
  6. nice
  7. satisfactory
  8. correct
Adjective
  • Music of the margins — which before neoperreo was punk rock and hip-hop — had been framed in opposition to polite society.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The emergency response agents were always polite and professional, and two-way communications came through loud and clear.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • His death comes in the third week of IDHW’s formal monitoring of the 2026-27 flu season.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • OutKick had attended all 13 formal press conferences during the first three Finals games without being called on.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Any function whose work can be pointed at a proper model of its underlying business, instead of at a general-purpose language model, is starting to compound the same way Anthropic’s engineering did a year ago.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.
    — Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of ceremonious
Adjective
  • The Chiefs have beaten a Denver Broncos team that was still finding its footing, the 2-4 Indianapolis Colts, the winless Miami Dolphins, a respectable Raiders squad and the 0-6 Chargers.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For 26 years, Ecuador has remained immune from the plague of a currency crisis and has sustained respectable economic growth, low inflation, and surging exports.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • Go to the Haveli restaurant by the pool for delicious flatbreads and salads, a nice change from the heavier fare at the main fort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Tennessee has put together a very nice campaign with six wins and just one loss.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • An uninterrupted trip Stoliker thinks chaos is not a satisfactory explanation for psychedelics’ effect on the brain.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
  • After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Issagholyan built out a 24-session plan to course-correct, involving twice weekly visits in which I would be chiropractically adjusted, my jaw cold-lasered to promote cellular regeneration and my back muscles stimulated by electrodes.
    — Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Google is correct that Personal Intelligence is opt-in, but the company uses various prompts and pop-ups to entice users to turn it on without fully explaining the consequences.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct

Browse Nearby Words

decorative
decorous
decorously
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Cite this Entry

“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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