as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the decaying of the bone mass that is so regrettably common in elderly women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ramshackle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rotting
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decaying
Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025
What fill out the episodes instead are extended zombie-battle scenes and long, silent sequences where people explore gorgeously decaying spaces.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The videos, taken on March 16 and 17, show dolphins swimming in cloudy and bright green water within a decaying enclosure.
—Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
These RHUs use decaying isotopes like americium-241 to generate heat and electricity for spacecraft.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2025
That the movie’s aesthetic has etched itself so deeply into our collective consciousness owes, in large part, to Syd Mead, the legendary concept artist and industrial designer who dreamed up the film’s decaying Los Angeles — a neo-noir visual cityscape that felt both distant and just within reach.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Things are growing and things are decaying.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Previous developers have tried unsuccessfully to revitalize the decaying property.
—Tyler Williams, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The buildings are beautiful and tranquil but fundamentally incongruous (modern architecture mixed with bits of decaying monasteries, gathered from meadows in Catalonia and France).
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
Is dark matter decaying, or is something decaying into dark matter?
—Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025
What fill out the episodes instead are extended zombie-battle scenes and long, silent sequences where people explore gorgeously decaying spaces.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The videos, taken on March 16 and 17, show dolphins swimming in cloudy and bright green water within a decaying enclosure.
—Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
These RHUs use decaying isotopes like americium-241 to generate heat and electricity for spacecraft.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2025
That the movie’s aesthetic has etched itself so deeply into our collective consciousness owes, in large part, to Syd Mead, the legendary concept artist and industrial designer who dreamed up the film’s decaying Los Angeles — a neo-noir visual cityscape that felt both distant and just within reach.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Things are growing and things are decaying.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Previous developers have tried unsuccessfully to revitalize the decaying property.
—Tyler Williams, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The buildings are beautiful and tranquil but fundamentally incongruous (modern architecture mixed with bits of decaying monasteries, gathered from meadows in Catalonia and France).
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decaying
Noun
-
Submersible visits over the years have shown an increase in its deterioration, with rust and microorganisms eating away at the ship's metal. Dives over more than a decade have shown the ship is falling apart.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
-
That could mean that rate cuts are pushed off until much later this year or even delayed until next year if that deterioration takes time to materialize.—
Colby Smith,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Wide public spaces and malls replace the ramshackle markets.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
-
And there was an uninsulated, ramshackle garden shed of less than 100 square feet that Ms. Prentiss imagined could be used as a writing studio.—
Tim McKeough,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Then came the yacht’s renaissance by her father, who saw beauty and sailing prowess inside a rotting hull.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Rotting Flesh and the Skeleton Underneath Eggers wanted the audience almost to smell the rotting flesh when the sarcophagus is flipped open.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
His health has been deteriorating since he was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a toddler.—
Lynsey Addario,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Retail experts saw a lack of investment in Hudson’s Bay stores, diminishing service levels and deteriorating physical conditions, like malfunctioning escalators and water damage in certain locations.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Since then, the levels have been adjusted to a maximum of 0.7 ppm or 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is considered optimal for preventing tooth decay.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Weak or absent pulse Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Some people with severe arterial blockages develop chronic limb-threatening ischemia (insufficient blood flow), which can cause severe, constant pain, gangrene (tissue decay), and even limb loss (amputation).—
Alicen Nelson MD,
Verywell Health,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Griff's was a cozy space inside with a small, rickety wooden patio in the front and a larger one in the back.—
Brianna Griff,
Chron,
13 Jan. 2023
-
Instead of rickety outdoor patios with plastic partitions, diners mostly ate in dining rooms.—
Nick Kindelsperger,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Dec. 2022
Verb
-
This stylish planter keeps plants well-watered and is virtually indestructible, designed to resist cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperatures.—
Rachel Ahrnsen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Jan. 2025
-
In the meantime, families can only guess how long their crumbling foundations will support their walls.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Moffett also said artificial intelligence isn’t driving an upgrade cycle as hoped, noting that there is weakening demand in China along with antitrust concerns.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2025
-
With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report.—
Jason Schenker,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decaying. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share