indecent

[ in-dee-suhnt ]

adjective

1. offending against generally accepted standards of propriety or good taste; improper; vulgar:

   indecent jokes; indecent language; indecent behavior.

   Synonyms: licentious, lewd, filthy, obscene, gross, rude, outrageous, coarse, indelicate, indecorous, immodest, distasteful

2. not decent; unbecoming or unseemly:

   indecent haste.

   Synonyms: inappropriate

   Antonyms: becoming, appropriate

indecent

/ ɪnˈdiːsənt /

adjective

1. offensive to standards of decency, esp in sexual matters
2. unseemly or improper (esp in the phrase indecent haste )

Derived Forms

• inˈdecently, adverb

Other Words From

• in·decent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of indecent¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin indecent- (stem of indecēns ) “unseemly.” See in- ³, decent

Synonym Study

See improper.

Example Sentences

After pleading guilty to making indecent images of children, 63-year-old Edwards was given a six month suspended jail sentence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in September.

From BBC

There is a reasonable argument to be made that the 2024 election outcome boils down to fundamental differences regarding what we, as a nation, find to be funny and what we take to be indecent.

From Salon

A strike force was set up in March to investigate several indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019, they said in a statement.

From BBC

Finally, more than a year after the crime was reported, the constable told me the suspect would be charged with an offence of malicious communications by sending an offensive, indecent or threatening message.

From BBC

In September, he was given a six-month suspended prison sentence after he admitted charges involving indecent images of children.

From BBC

Related Words

• filthy
• immoral
• improper
• lewd
• obscene
• off-color
• outrageous
• ridiculous
• salacious
• shocking
• tasteless
• unbecoming
• unseemly
• vile