decorous
marked by proper, dignified behavior and good taste
Word origin: From Latin decorus, fitting or becoming, from decus, grace.
Decorous in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing decorous in a sentence.
The guests maintained decorous silence throughout the solemn ceremony.
The guests maintained a decorous silence as the elderly statesman rose to speak.
Using “decorous” well
Decorous describes behavior that fits social standards of dignity and good taste, pairing with seemly and proper. Do not confuse it with decorative, which concerns ornamentation, not propriety.
More GRE words starting with D
to engage in something superficially or as a casual pastime
a raised platform for speakers or honored guests
to waste time or act without urgency
to make something slightly wet, or to make a feeling or reaction less strong
marked with spots or patches of color or light
to intimidate or discourage with fear or doubt
to move slowly or waste time idly
a scarcity or shortage of something
Questions about “decorous”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.