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
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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Wear old clothes and shoes Bring flashlights Watch for sharp objects Avoid food waste Wash your hands Be polite and cooperate if you are asked to leave The Fresno Bee 559-441-6005 Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter.—
Fernanda Galan,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Which felt like a polite way of saying the same thing.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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All three ensembles diverged from the Vatican's traditional dress code, which prescribes a formal black suit, black tie, and a black lapel pin for male attendees at papal funerals.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
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However, according to King Law Group, formal approval can only be granted through a physical notice mailed to the petitioner’s address.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Just cut the tubing to the proper length and wrap it around the cables.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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By advocating for proper funding, schools will be able to take innovative approaches to increasing literacy rates, as well as seeing gains in math.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
6 Jan. 2025
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The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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At least the fielding has looked respectable (ninth in defensive efficiency) and the pitching staff mostly holds its own.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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The definitions of what’s crazy, what’s malicious, what’s polite, normal, and respectable all lost some of their force.—
Michael Brendan Dougherty,
National Review,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Ice is not nice The ice at American Airlines Center was a huge problem in Game 2, with players on both teams falling down left and right.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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It’s made of a tarp-like material that feels pretty durable and the lid zippers, which is nice to contain smells.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The surgery was difficult due to Bolsonaro’s prior surgeries and stab wound, but Sunday’s procedure did not have unexpected complications and the result was satisfactory, doctors said, adding that hospital visits for now should be limited to family.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
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According to the complaint, Combs allegedly said the act wasn’t satisfactory and threatened Doe with violence afterward.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ars Technica: Your AI take is that neither the dystopian view of sentient AI or the utopian view is necessarily correct.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
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Roth was correct as the rain didn’t start for more than 90 minutes, which seemingly would have given the Royals and Rockies a chance to get a good chunk of the game played.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorous. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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