#preferable

増し, often written as マシ or まし, is a な-adjective that carries the meaning “better, preferable, less objectionable.” It’s almost the same meaning as 良い, good, except it’s not necessarily a good thing in and of itself... it’s just better than the alternative. Some uses include:

（〜は）まだマシだ　→　~ is still better (than ___ )

「いやだ。今日の給食はなめこだ。」 「まだマシだ。先週は中華ホヤスープだった。」 “Yuck. Today’s school lunch is nameko.” “Could be worse. Last week was sea squirt soup.”

(short form)　+　だけまし　→　just ~ is better (than the opposite)

あんたはその娘さん…生きてるだけマシですよ あんなになったってね Your daughter... At least she’s still alive. Even if she ended up like that.

(『デッドマンワンダーランド』 Deadman Wonderland, vol. 8 by Kataoka Jinsei and Kondou Kazuma) (Image credit: @origami10)

J-Rock Examples:

TO DO A DANGEROUS THING WITH STYLE IS WHAT I CALL ART.

aside, purity’s mostly 

not preferable.