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as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 respectable Yet, in the context of the Civil Rights Movement in which photographers created countless visual records of protests, many Black activists in the 1950s and 1960s continued to emphasize the importance of looking respectable. Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025 The other thing to consider is that even if Gonzalez hasn’t been a monster against righties the way he’s been against lefties, he’s still been respectable. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025 The former third-round pick registered 77 tackles, an interception and six passes defended last season, posting a respectable 64.8 overall grade at Pro Football Focus. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 Knapp rummages in her kitchen, eventually holding up a perfectly respectable little potato. Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for respectable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectable
Adjective
  • Getting an honorable discharge at the height of the Vietnam War was a blessing, as far as I was concerned.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2025
  • An honorable transfer happened with his remains arriving at the Indianapolis International Airport aboard an American Airlines flight on Aug. 15, 2025.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Tia Glover, with her sharp British wit, looks primed to challenge Potomac’s polite veneers.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The note explained their situation in a polite and understanding way, apologizing for any noise their own children might make.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Sullivan’s Crossing also enjoyed a decent audience this interval with 727M minutes viewed, putting it at No. 8.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Photo by Harry How/Getty Images Read more: 49ers' Brock Purdy Gets Honest About Christian McCaffrey Los Angeles could have a decent insurance policy under center in the form of veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • From the Sports Desk UofL volleyball gets a considerable piece of the revenue-sharing pie: The University of Louisville is spending revenue-sharing money on college volleyball.
    Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Investing in a single stock involves considerable risk.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Social media users have reacted to Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, suggesting that the president has been overlooked for the prestigious award.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The Carters are also boasting a billion-dollar powerhouse; 35-time Grammy award-winner and international superstar Beyoncé married hip-hop legend Jay-Z back in 2008, who also won 25 of the prestigious music awards.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Find two people, no more, who can be brutally honest with you, yet love you enough to speak gently.
    Pankaj Vasani, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The point is to be honest with parents and the people tasked with running our schools about how the system is doing. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Building a proper football ecosystem benefits the wider Saudi aim of diversifying away from oil.
    Mavis Mook, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Other character dimensions, like courage (e.g., tenacious, determined) and drive (results-oriented), help ensure proper focus.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Department of Homeland Security was planning to deport people apprehended on U.S. soil to third countries, often without adequate procedures or legal justifications.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Consequently, using traditional detect-and-respond reactive security tools is no longer an adequate defensive strategy.
    Will Townsend, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Respectable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectable. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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