decencies
Britishplural noun
-
those things that are considered necessary for a decent life
-
standards of behaviour considered correct by polite society; proprieties
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once a human being is dead there are people enough to provide the last decencies; perhaps it is so because only then can there be no question of further or recurring assistance being sought.
From Literature
“The connections that survive do so in compelling ways. … The depiction of the women in Jeanette and Carmen’s family is confident and layered, capturing their decencies and failings.”
From New York Times
Nor, in many cases, are they accorded the simple decencies that are part of formal employment.
From New York Times
It’s all rather consoling in an era where . . . well, we shouldn’t ever take such decencies for granted.
From Washington Post
It is sad that in political life, recognizing and naming actions that are unethical get parsed into legalisms, forgetful of the roots of law – our common human practices and decencies.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.