The difference between Decent and Poor

When used as adjectives, decent means appropriate, whereas poor means with little or no possessions or money, particularly in relation to contemporaries who do have them.

Poor is also noun with the meaning: those who have little or no possessions or money, taken as a group.

check bellow for the other definitions of Decent and Poor

  1. Decent as an adjective (obsolete):

    Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.

  2. Decent as an adjective (of a person):

    Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.

  3. Decent as an adjective (informal):

    Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.

    Examples:

    "Are you decent? May I come in?"

  4. Decent as an adjective:

    Fair; good enough; okay.

    Examples:

    "He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it."

  5. Decent as an adjective:

    Significant; substantial.

    Examples:

    "There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them."

  6. Decent as an adjective (obsolete):

    Comely; shapely; well-formed.

    Examples:

    "A sable stole of cyprus lawn / Over thy decent shoulders drawn"

  1. Poor as an adjective:

    With little or no possessions or money, particularly in relation to contemporaries who do have them.

    Examples:

    "We were so poor that we couldn't afford shoes."

  2. Poor as an adjective:

    Of low quality.

    Examples:

    "That was a poor performance."

  3. Poor as an adjective:

    Used to express pity.

    Examples:

    "Oh you poor little thing."

  4. Poor as an adjective:

    Deficient in a specified way.

    Examples:

    "Cow's milk is poor in iron."

  5. Poor as an adjective:

    Inadequate, insufficient.

    Examples:

    "I received a poor reward for all my hard work."

  6. Poor as an adjective:

    Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek.

  1. Poor as a noun (with "the"):

    Those who have little or no possessions or money, taken as a group.

    Examples:

    "The poor are always with us."

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