decomposition

noun

Definition of decompositionnext
as in decay
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the unmistakable smell of decomposition led us to some fruit that had fallen behind the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposition
  1. decay
  2. fermentation
  3. putrefaction
Noun
  • These economies are much more vulnerable to existential economic and environmental shocks and downward spirals of community decay than urban economies, which have built up more diversified tradable income sources over time.
    Tim Freeman, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Summary Dental fillings help maintain the structure and function of natural teeth damaged by tooth decay.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Made in a dedicated white wine fermentation room, the two whites are the first releases from the new winery.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2025
  • One promising approach comes from Sunflower Therapeutics, which is adapting pharmaceutical-grade fermentation systems for food production.
    Shayna Harris, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of fermentation
Noun
  • Here was an artist drawn irresistibly to executions and corpses, dismemberment and putrefaction.
    airmail.news, airmail.news, 20 Apr. 2024
  • Kellogg’s thinking on constipation, that anything less than three bowel movements a day risked dangerous intestinal putrefaction, was shaped by the emerging germ theory of disease and the ascent of bacteriology as a discipline through the closing decades of the 19th century.
    Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of putrefaction
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near decomposition

decomposing

decomposition

decompress

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Decomposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposition. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on decomposition

Nglish: Translation of decomposition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of decomposition for Arabic Speakers

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