almost decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is close to being acceptable or satisfactory, but not quite there. Example: "The meal was almost decent, but it lacked seasoning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Revenge of the Sith has some almost decent things.

The Guardian - Film

The most direct but not exactly most serene way to travel to Mar-a-Lago, I discovered one weekend not long ago, is aboard Trump's 727, the same aircraft he gave up during the blip and, after an almost decent interval, bought back.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

No knock against Sully, he suggests, but almost any decent pilot could have done it.

The New York Times - Books

Giles Worsley, critic and historian, an almost unnaturally decent man to find in journalism, died of cancer last year, aged 44.

The Guardian

The descriptions of meals are delightful, despite the anomaly at the heart of her book: during the Soviet period, there was almost nothing decent to eat, unless you were a party official.

The New York Times - Books

So Great a Crime would be more intriguing if the audience were left in more doubt and if Stuart McGugan's stolid MacDonald had some moments of ambivalence, rather than seeming almost unquestionably decent.

Independent

Over our dinner tonight, my father remarked that, when he was a boy, almost every decent restaurant had featured a cabinet of wonders of this kind; now almost none of them did.

The New Yorker

Still, you can now walk into almost any decent supermarket and buy vegan cheese.

Vice

Ultimately, you can take almost any decent Harambe meme and find it's ironic, sincere and a total joke rolled into one.

Vice

(In fact, as venues with decent pianos continue to evaporate, it is almost becoming the norm).

The New Yorker

In an email soon after, he described Wheatcroft to me as "absurdly decent, almost unnaturally friendly".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost decent", consider the context to ensure the level of negativity or positivity aligns with your intention. It works best when you want to acknowledge something isn't perfect, but has some redeeming qualities.

Common error

Avoid using "almost decent" in formal writing or professional settings where a more precise and professional tone is expected. Instead, opt for phrases like "nearly acceptable" or "approaching satisfactory" to maintain a more polished and appropriate style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost decent" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe something that is approaching a satisfactory level but hasn't quite reached it. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost decent" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something that is approaching an acceptable level but is not fully satisfactory. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity. It's frequently used in news and media contexts to provide a tempered assessment. While "almost decent" can be considered neutral in tone, it is important to be mindful of the specific context in which it is deployed. Related phrases include "nearly acceptable", "close to satisfactory", and "barely adequate", offering alternative ways to express similar sentiments with varying degrees of positivity or negativity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly acceptable

Emphasizes the proximity to being acceptable but not quite there.

close to satisfactory

Highlights the nearness to meeting the required satisfaction level.

barely adequate

Suggests the minimum level of acceptability is just achieved.

passable at best

Indicates that the quality is just good enough to pass or be tolerated.

marginally acceptable

Implies that the level of acceptance is very narrow or slight.

sort of okay

Uses informal language to express a mild level of approval.

just about fair

Highlights that the quality is fair, with a hint that it barely makes the cut.

kinda good

Offers a casual way of saying something is somewhat good.

not entirely bad

Uses a double negative to indicate a mild degree of positivity.

approaching good

Focuses on the improvement toward a good state, implying it is not yet there.

FAQs

How can I use "almost decent" in a sentence?

You can use "almost decent" to describe something that is close to being acceptable or satisfactory, but not quite there. For example, "The meal was "almost decent", but it lacked seasoning."

What's a more formal alternative to "almost decent"?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "nearly acceptable", "approaching satisfactory", or "marginally acceptable" instead of "almost decent".

Is "almost decent" a negative or positive description?

"Almost decent" is a neutral to slightly positive description, indicating something has potential or some good qualities, but isn't fully satisfactory. It's less positive than "very decent" but more favorable than "barely adequate".

Which is correct, "almost decent" or "nearly decent"?

Both "almost decent" and "nearly decent" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific rhythm of the sentence.