1
as in decomposes
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 fades
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 decays
In theory, beryllium-8 normally decays into two helium-4 nuclei.
—
Big Think, 19 Mar. 2026
This state then decays through a two-step cascade, releasing two photons in rapid succession.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
But Daye naturally decays at the end of each season, unless she is rebuilt using the branches, berries, and blooms of the next.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Grief gets layered on top of grief and secrets stack sky high as suburban normalcy decays into something at once alarmingly unstable and comfortingly funny.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
This famously happens when a quantum object is measured, but in this case, the mystery crops up when the top quark decays into lighter particles.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025
The RTGs are mounted on a boom and use plutonium-238 oxide that slowly decays and produces heat.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
The heartwood in the tree’s center decays first and makes for easy excavating.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Sep. 2025
Competitive advantage now decays in months, not years.
—Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Big Think, 19 Mar. 2026
This state then decays through a two-step cascade, releasing two photons in rapid succession.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
But Daye naturally decays at the end of each season, unless she is rebuilt using the branches, berries, and blooms of the next.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Grief gets layered on top of grief and secrets stack sky high as suburban normalcy decays into something at once alarmingly unstable and comfortingly funny.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
This famously happens when a quantum object is measured, but in this case, the mystery crops up when the top quark decays into lighter particles.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025
The RTGs are mounted on a boom and use plutonium-238 oxide that slowly decays and produces heat.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
The heartwood in the tree’s center decays first and makes for easy excavating.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Sep. 2025
Competitive advantage now decays in months, not years.
—Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decays
Verb
-
Another process, thermogenic hydrogen formation, occurs in deep sedimentary basins when organic material decomposes under high temperatures, roughly 480 to 930 degrees Fahrenheit (250 to 500 degrees Celsius).—
Promise Longe,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The clever bit is when these fuels flow through the Draper engine and encounter a catalyst that decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into high-pressure oxygen and steam.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gorman's family said earlier this week that her murder cannot be a case that fades from public attention.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
As the Labubu frenzy fades, HSBC last month trimmed its revenue growth forecast for Pop Mart this year from around 30% to under 24%, and expects a 11% to 13% cut in 2026-2027 earnings.—
Elaine Yu,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The café disintegrates, white-peach mimosas lost forever.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
If the American state disintegrates, future postmortems are unlikely to focus much on measles, or on rotavirus vaccination rates.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The song was inspired by surviving a toxic relationship, and then finding a true-hearted love that crumbles emotional walls.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Justice delayed weakens deterrence.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The big differences between the labs probably reflect the fact that, as Italians like to say, the fish rots from the head.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Bacterial plant diseases include speck (a winter-surviving infection that attacks tomatoes), canker (which damages fruit trees including those producing apples and peaches), and blight (which rots melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and more).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
And water aerobics for senior women descends into a bizarre request.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decays. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
