indecorous
adjective
Synonyms
- amiss
- graceless
- improper
- inapposite
- inappropriate
- inapt
- incongruous
- incorrect
- inept
- infelicitous
- malapropos
- perverse
- unapt
- unbecoming
- unfit
- unhappy
- unseemly
- unsuitable
- untoward
- wrong
Example Sentences
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 Trump’s performances were riddled with misinformation, contradictions and indecorous boasts, while also predicting miracles and promoting cure-all therapeutics. Anchorage Daily News, 20 Dec. 2020 The yelling crowd outwardly appeared to be indecorous and vulgar, failing to properly respect the solemn circumstances. Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2020 Given the lack of actual harm and the indecorous behavior on all sides, this is not an episode over which a national consensus would support the president’s removal. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 27 Oct. 2019 Yet Harvard, too, was caught in the indecorous (but perfectly legal) act of giving preferences to white, wealthy kids who already enjoy the massive advantage of being . . . BostonGlobe.com, 3 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Latin indecorus, from in- + decorus decorous
1668, in the meaning defined above
indecorous
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- inappropriate
- improper
- unsuitable
- incorrect
- wrong
- unhappy
- unfit
- unseemly
- unbecoming
- irrelevant
- infelicitous
- unfortunate
- incongruous
- perverse
- graceless
- inapt
- malapropos
- untoward
- unacceptable
- amiss
- unapt
- inept
- awkward
- inapposite
- inconsistent
- naughty
- bad
- inopportune
- unseasonable
- untimely
- extraneous
- out of place
- censurable
- sinful
- immaterial
- uncongenial
- out of the way
- inapplicable
- incompatible
- irrelative
- forbidden
- ungraceful
- mismatched
- gauche
- blamable
- unsatisfactory
- prohibited
- proscribed
- blameworthy
- banned
- barred
- disallowed
- interdicted
- outlawed
- misbecoming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appropriate
- decorous
- proper
- suitable
- felicitous
- correct
- genteel
- fitting
- meet
- right
- seemly
- relative
- becoming
- happy
- timely
- relevant
- apt
- opportune
- befitting
- fit
- seasonable
- applicable
- congenial
- fortunate
- apposite
- material
- permitted
- harmonious
- pointed
- germane
- pat
- compatible
- acceptable
- authorized
- satisfactory
- adequate
- endorsed
- sanctioned
- approved
- apropos
- licensed
- kosher
- tolerable
- respectable
- fine
- promoted
- allowed
- supported
- creditable
- okay
- decent
- exemplary
- commendable
- indorsed
- passable
- encouraged
- irreproachable
- blameless
- harmonious
- balanced
- consonant
- all right
- congruous
- companionate
- abetted
- OK
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of indecorous are improper, indelicate, unbecoming, and unseemly. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.
While in some cases nearly identical to indecorous, 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.
Although the words indelicate and indecorous have much in common, indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.
In some situations, the words unbecoming and indecorous are roughly equivalent. However, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.
The meanings of unseemly and indecorous largely overlap; however, unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.