indecorous

adjective

in·​de·​co·​rous (ˌ)in-ˈde-k(ə-)rəs How to pronounce indecorous (audio)
ˌin-di-ˈkȯr-əs
: not decorous : conflicting with accepted standards of good conduct or good taste
indecorously adverb
indecorousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for indecorous

indecorous, improper, unseemly, unbecoming, indelicate mean not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste.

indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

Examples of indecorous in a Sentence

an indecorous joke for a solemn moment in the marriage ceremony
Recent Examples on the Web With round-the-clock musicians, magicians, comedians, blue men and white Bengal tigers, the Strip became the premier global destination not just for indecorous gambling, but also for family-friendly entertainment. Chris Carra, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Now five seasons old, The Constructivists also have taken a step up in ambition by casting local veteran James Pickering as David, the latest in a run of wild, unhinged and indecorous old men the septuagenarian has brought to life on stage. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2023 Even a white-collar defendant’s photograph of himself holding a baseball bat next to a prosecutor’s photo might be easily dismissed as indecorous, but free, speech. Elliot Williams, CNN, 10 Apr. 2023 There was a palpable undercurrent of dissatisfaction among offensive players – grumbling about the predictability of the offense and what looked like indecorous snickering when the locker room opened. Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Dec. 2022 Both Diaz and Daichendt are old enough to remember the days when these cultures were seen as indecorous and even dangerous. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2022 Hurston often ran afoul of her contemporaries because of her indecorous proclamations. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2022 However indecorous her comments, those facts take her commentary out of the purview of the school district. Arkansas Online, 2 July 2021 The eyebrows would go up, the smile would fade, a silent but oh-so-sharp rebuke to the rude, the entitled, the indecorous. Washington Post, 7 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indecorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin indecorus, from in- + decorus decorous

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indecorous was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near indecorous

Cite this Entry

“Indecorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indecorous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

indecorous

adjective
in·​de·​co·​rous (ˈ)in-ˈdek-ə-rəs How to pronounce indecorous (audio)
ˌin-di-ˈkōr-əs,
-ˈkȯr-
: not proper or in good taste : unbecoming
indecorous behavior
indecorously adverb
indecorousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on indecorous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!