1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rot
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
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2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
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3
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decay
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2025
One recent exhibit displayed a series of rough-hewn public fountains that evoked post-apocalyptic decay.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022
Without relative economic strength, the sphere’s political and military strength will decay over time.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 7 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for decay
Noun
One study found that, after more than five years without fluoride in drinking water, rates of tooth decay in Antigo, Wisconsin jumped 200% in second grade children, 70% in fourth graders and 91% in sixth graders, according to the AFS.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2025
One recent exhibit displayed a series of rough-hewn public fountains that evoked post-apocalyptic decay.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Pivet has also developed the Self-Cycle case, that according to the company is bio-available, which means when you are done with the case and aren't able to recycle, the naturally consumable plastic will decay in landfills.
—Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022
Without relative economic strength, the sphere’s political and military strength will decay over time.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 7 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
Noun
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As leaders in the industry who have spent countless hours underground repairing failing gas lines, our licensed gas contractors have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of our state’s natural gas infrastructure.—
Harley Flack,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
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Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of slumber might speed up the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Such ancient artifacts, including those recently found at the pyramid site, have survived in the region for millennia due to the desert’s dryness—ideal for preserving organic materials that would rot in wet climates.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
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The piece was about the cycle of life—the apple would rot and eventually disintegrate.—
David Sheff,
ARTnews.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Based on the aforementioned trends, employment outcomes haven’t gotten better over the past decade and are likely to deteriorate further.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Over the next two decades, Boyer and Kochan were inseparable — even as Kochan’s cancer progressed and her health deteriorated.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Federal Railway Safety Act But Cassity and other union leaders remain concerned that little requires railroads like Norfolk Southern to maintain these protocols once the headlines of East Palestine fade away.—
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
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Third to Journalism in the recent San Felipe Stakes — the race that more or less made Journalism a candidate Derby horse and that saw Rodriguez fade to show — Rodriguez currently clings to step No. 30 on the Derby points ladder, with 21-plus points.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The clippings quickly decompose, adding nutrients to the soil in the process.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Mar. 2025
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Like the dog, their bodies were decomposing with some mummification, a consequence of body type and climate in Santa Fe's especially dry air at an elevation of nearly 7,200 feet (2,200 meters).—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When workers suspect the game is rigged in favor of the boss's nephew or the CEO's daughter, the belief that hard work leads to recognition—the backbone of productive workplaces—begins to crumble.—
Jonathan H. Westover,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Wild, who are crumbling at the seams, fell to 1-4-2 in their past seven thanks to an 0-1-2 road trip.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But that progress stalled out around the turn of the year, which weakened the case for further rate cuts and ultimately prompted the Fed to stand pat in January.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
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One way that could happen would be for foreign countries to weaken their currency to make the same product cheaper in dollars for tariff purposes, without raising the end cost to the consumer.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the Parsi tradition, the bones are left there to gradually disintegrate over time, completing the return to nature without defiling the earth.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The premier Copley Cup — which for decades drew the nation’s elite men’s varsity eights for an early-season east/west showdown – has disintegrated into an alumni race.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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