decent looking

USAGE SUMMARY

"decent looking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that looks satisfactory but not especially impressive. For example, "The house was decent looking, but nothing special."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Bring it on, a crucial few more voters may think, not chaos but decent looking people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Dear Dr Mander I'm a decent looking chap, I come from a very good family, I've got stacks of money.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He had long blond hair, and he looked like he could be decent looking, but he was sitting on a little carnival horse ride," Mr. Gamm said.

The New York Times

Its new ezPlay Portable DVD Player is pretty decent looking.

TechCrunch

Though it's an all-around decent looking player, the price isn't the greatest in town.

TechCrunch

I guess it's a decent looking phone, including the purplish colorization, but the branding has me confused.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

If you wanna update your look but don't have the bones to get anything decent, look no further than brand new retail concept ebaE.

Vice

"It's just getting yourself in position to get a decent look.

The New York Times - Sports

If Stepanek can do anything to neutralize Janowicz's serve, he should have a decent look at an upset.

The New York Times

That was a really decent look for Dempsey by the way.

The Guardian - Sport

Nearly all candidates, men and women alike, want a mate with devotion to Islam, decent looks and legal immigration status.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person's appearance, use "decent looking" to indicate they are moderately attractive without being exceptionally beautiful or handsome. It's a neutral and safe compliment.

Common error

Avoid using "decent looking" when you truly mean someone is very attractive. It can downplay their appeal and come across as insincere or even subtly insulting.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "decent looking" is that of a compound adjective. It modifies a noun to describe its appearance as moderately attractive or acceptable, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

32%

Vice

12%

Less common in

Huffington Post

4%

The New York Times

4%

The Economist

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decent looking" functions as a compound adjective used to describe something or someone with moderate attractiveness or acceptability. As Ludwig AI explains, its grammatical status is correct, and its use is most frequent in news and media contexts. It offers a neutral way to express appearance, making it versatile for various situations. Consider alternatives like "presentable" or "fairly attractive" to fine-tune your descriptive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Presentable

Focuses on being suitable for public appearance.

Fairly attractive

Highlights a moderate level of attractiveness.

Reasonably good-looking

Emphasizes a balanced level of attractiveness.

Passable in appearance

Suggests meeting a minimum standard of acceptability in looks.

Of acceptable appearance

Highlights the quality of satisfying requirements.

Moderately attractive

Indicates a mid-range level of attractiveness.

Somewhat appealing

Focuses on a limited degree of attractiveness.

Not unattractive

Emphasizes the absence of negative visual qualities.

Kind of cute

Indicates a charming or pleasing appearance to some extent.

Tolerable to behold

Underscores the quality of being bearable when seen.

FAQs

What does "decent looking" mean?

The phrase "decent looking" describes someone or something that is moderately attractive or presentable, but not exceptionally so. It implies an average or acceptable appearance.

What can I say instead of "decent looking"?

You can use alternatives like "presentable", "fairly attractive", or "reasonably good-looking" depending on the context.

Is "decent looking" a subjective term?

Yes, "decent looking" is subjective because the perception of what is considered "decent" can vary from person to person based on individual preferences and cultural standards.

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

You can use "decent looking" to describe someone's physical appearance, such as "He seemed like a nice, decent looking guy", or to describe the appearance of an object, such as "The product had a decent looking design".