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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decorous
Aside from a series of gruesome martyr scenes frescoed on the interior wall of the second ring in the late 16th century, the décor reflects late Imperial taste for decorous abstraction and costly materials.
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David Laskin, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Aside from a series of gruesome martyr scenes frescoed on the interior wall of the second ring in the late 16th century, the decor reflects late Imperial taste for decorous abstraction and costly materials.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Is there any decorous way to acknowledge my failure to do so over the past few years and to express my regret?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
At home, the atmosphere was decorous, curious, gentle; outside, the culture of the nineteen-fifties was tougher, valorizing war and papering over a darker, more furtive kind of violence.
—Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decorous
Adjective
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Letting your friend know their deodorant is a little weak is a direct but still polite way to encourage them to freshen up.—
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Some people are strangely triggered and less than polite, especially men and people with migraines who seem to hate it.—
Adjective
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All were displayed in an austere room designed for examining art works—an oddly formal space for an encounter with one’s past.—
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This easygoing aesthetic introduces itself in the living room, which doubles as the home’s entry since there’s no formal foyer.—
Adjective
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All my Social Security user logins are again able to connect and view the proper benefit information.—
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In the case filed with the Singapore High Court, the elder Kwek accused Sherman of instigating a boardroom coup by appointing two new board members without proper vetting by the nomination committee.—
Adjective
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The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.—
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The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.—
Adjective
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Further back, Kimi Antonelli in sixth impressed in his Mercedes, setting the fastest lap of the race, while home favorite Yuki Tsunoda fought through to a respectable P12 in his first race for Red Bull.—
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The twin-size Premier Hybrid is the only size currently $100 less, but the queen starts at a respectable $999, while the king starts at $1,199.—
Adjective
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After spending the last two seasons together at the University of Minnesota, it’s been nice having each other to lean on — and to geek out with.—
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Not easy to do, but nice to come through tonight.—
Adjective
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The sound from the optional Bose 12-speaker upgrade is satisfactory.—
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Yet a great deal remained to be paid with funds expected after the submission of satisfactory progress reports.—
Adjective
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By default, the projector will switch to the correct mode for input tagged as Filmmaker or IMAX, and adjust other settings to match.—
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Measure your gizmo with the case on to get a sense of correct sizing, and look for a crossbody phone bag that matches the criteria (usually found in the product’s online description).—
Cite this Entry
“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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