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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Fernando Narro Roman,
NPR,
28 June 2026
At age 11, my favorite Broadway show was Follies – a classic preteen tale about the decay of female beauty and fading fame within an unscrupulous industry of vaudeville and burlesque.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 June 2026
Kyle Westaway,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Like Perseverance and Curiosity, the test rover is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which converts heat from naturally decaying radioactive material into electricity.
—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decay
Noun
The weather is humid and in some areas, there is already a strong smell of decay, raising fears of a growing public health crisis.
—
Fernando Narro Roman,
NPR,
28 June 2026
At age 11, my favorite Broadway show was Follies – a classic preteen tale about the decay of female beauty and fading fame within an unscrupulous industry of vaudeville and burlesque.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 June 2026
Verb
Control concentrated in one person dies with that person, decays with that person's judgment, and converts to cash the day that person takes a hard enough offer.
—
Kyle Westaway,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Like Perseverance and Curiosity, the test rover is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which converts heat from naturally decaying radioactive material into electricity.
—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
Noun
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But nothing competes with the painful deterioration of her sight after contracting scarlet fever.
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In addition, city officials can now require owners to install security measures to help protect vacant buildings from further deterioration or trespassing.
Noun
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Authorities also found numerous dead animals in advanced stages of decomposition, including hundreds of chickens that investigators said had been discarded in bags and fed to the dogs, according to The Straits Times and The Standard.
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Investigators also found additional remains in advanced stages of decomposition, the sheriff’s office said.
Verb
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In his inital letter, Lehmkuhl agreed that there is an urgent need to clear debris and address the persistent odor of millions of pounds of rotting food at the site.
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Applying mulch directly against plant stems traps moisture, leading to rotting and other issues.
Verb
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They can also be used for de-aging characters, creating performances in different languages, or preserving the voice or likeness of an actor whose health is deteriorating, as was the case with CAA client Eric Dane.
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Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveway repair is needed when the surface deteriorates and develops cracks over the years.
Verb
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But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
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The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
Noun
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Press freedoms across Africa are already fragile, with most nations ranking in the lower half of an influential press freedoms index, while numerous recent coups have contributed to a weakening of democratic norms in parts of the continent.
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One of the most significant changes during Hill’s tenure was the weakening of structures designed to elevate teacher concerns to district leadership, Oreskovic said.
Verb
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The Yolo County Central Landfill will build a new system that will convert methane from decomposing waste into renewable natural gas, the county announced Tuesday.
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The ocean becomes a creamy expanse splotched with brown mats of decomposing algae, according to photos shared by Abrams.
Verb
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Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.
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Survivors say that doors to the facility were locked and that migrants were left to die inside crumbling walls.
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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