indecency

I1N1D2E1C3E1N1C3Y4
/ɪnˈdiːsənsi/

noun

Lack of decency; the property or degree of being indecent.

“One sure sign of indecency is criticizing foreigners constantly, but remaining silent about the problems within your own land, or by your own people, or both.”

Similar
immoralityunrightfulnessunseemlinessdishonourimprobityimproprietyundecencyungodliness
Opposite
decency
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounindecency (plural indecencies)

plural indecencies

  1. Lack of decency; the property or degree of being indecent.

    One sure sign of indecency is criticizing foreigners constantly, but remaining silent about the problems within your own land, or by your own people, or both.

    Synonyms: immorality, unrightfulness, unseemliness, dishonour, immorality, improbity, impropriety, undecency

  2. Something showing lack of decency; something (such as a word) that is indecent.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounLack of decency; the property or degree of being indecent.

Similar
immoralityunrightfulnessunseemlinessdishonourimmoralityimprobityimproprietyundecencyungodlinessunhonourunprobityunproprietyunrighteousnessunrightfulnessunsaintlinessunseemlinessunuprightnessunvirtuousnesswickedness

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe quality of being indecent

Opposite
decency
Broader
improprietyimproperness

nounan indecent or improper act

Similar
impropriety
Broader
misbehaviormisbehaviourmisdeed
Also see
dishonourimmoralityimprobityimproprietysalaciousnessungodlinessunhonourunproprietyunrighteousnessunrightfulnessunsaintlinessunseemlinessunuprightnessunvirtuousnesswickedness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From in- + decent + -cy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian непристойност
  • непристойност (nepristojnost)lack of decency
Catalan indecència, indecència
  • indecèncialack of decency
  • indecènciasomething showing lack of decency
Chinese Mandarin 不雅, 不得體 /不得体
  • 不雅 (bùyǎ)lack of decency
  • 不得體 /不得体 (bù détǐ)lack of decency
  • 猥褻 /猥亵 (wěixiè)lack of decency
  • 猥褻之物 /猥亵之物 (wěixiè zhī wù)something showing lack of decency
  • 不雅之事 (bùyǎ zhī shì)something showing lack of decency
Finnish sopimattomuus, siveettömyys
  • sopimattomuuslack of decency
  • siveettömyyslack of decency
  • säädyttömyyslack of decency
  • räävittömyyslack of decency
  • sopimattomuussomething showing lack of decency
  • siveettömyyssomething showing lack of decency
  • säädyttömyyssomething showing lack of decency
  • räävittömyyssomething showing lack of decency
French indécence
  • indécencelack of decency
German Unanständigkeit, Anstößigkeit
  • Unanständigkeitlack of decency
  • Anstößigkeitlack of decency
  • Unanständigkeitsomething showing lack of decency
  • Anstößigkeitsomething showing lack of decency
Italian indecenza
  • indecenzalack of decency
Latin indecēntia
  • indecēntialack of decency
Polish nieprzyzwoitość
  • nieprzyzwoitośćlack of decency
Portuguese indecência, indecência
  • indecêncialack of decency
  • indecênciasomething showing lack of decency
Turkish ahlaksızlık, açık saçıklık
  • ahlaksızlıklack of decency
  • açık saçıklıklack of decency
Cite this entry
APA

indecency. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecency

MLA

“indecency.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecency. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indecency,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecency.

Source: indecency on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.