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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of decay
David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Bogs are low-oxygen environments and prevent decay, and chemicals like tannins — used in tanning leather — preserve even the organic tissues from human remains, according to Britannica.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 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
Community water fluoridation adjusts the amount of fluoride in drinking water to a level that will prevent tooth decay.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Bogs are low-oxygen environments and prevent decay, and chemicals like tannins — used in tanning leather — preserve even the organic tissues from human remains, according to Britannica.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 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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Kahle, who early on recognized the ephemeral nature of the web, said the rapid deterioration of the living web is a serious threat to historical preservation.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Of course, however, a severe deterioration in the U.S. economy would have global repercussions.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The story revolves around a town where the inhabitants have been mysteriously disappearing and rumours abound that there are ghosts under the lake eating human heads and leaving the rotting corpses floating on the water’s surface.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2025
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Check to make sure the soil isn't soggy or too wet, as this can lead to bulbs rotting.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Seeing Postecoglou snap at such a mild remark demonstrated how much the Australian’s relationship with the fans has deteriorated.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Wood shelves in dry food storage area were deteriorated.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The possible explanatory layers overwhelm, and so there’s an honesty to how the series opts to focus on the devastation instead, fading out on the image of the Miller family torn apart and Eddie breaking down on Jamie’s bed.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
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Now, Trump's personal and fading legal troubles—combined with his brash policies concerning issues like immigration, executive power, and corporate regulations—are once again driving people to law school.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
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Even after your trash can is emptied, the bacteria and decomposing debris can be left behind in trace amounts, which causes the odors to remain.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Impossible to answer because even near-perfect baseball teams can crumble in October.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Almost every episode gathers all possible defendants, Agatha Christie-style, to point the finger at someone who conveniently crumbles for the flimsiest of reasons.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His health weakened by overwork and physical ailments, McCombs spent much of the last months of his life under medical care.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Seth Jones, president of the defense and security department of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says a trade war that punishes U.S. partners in the region threatens to weaken ties with Asian allies, possibly forcing them to reassess the reliability of U.S. security commitments.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The top courses of the concrete block had disintegrated, and were nothing more than sand and small stones.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Players like Bobby Bonilla, George Foster, Vince Coleman, Jason Bay, Justin Verlander, Kaz Matsui, and others, came to Queens with high hopes that eventually disintegrated.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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