PUTRESCENCE Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

putrescence

noun

pyü-ˈtre-sᵊn(t)s

Definition of putrescence

as in decomposition

the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances in the far corner of the walk-in refrigerator was a crate of cucumbers in an advanced stage of putrescence

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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 putrescence In 19th-century cities, when waste disposal was a private matter and not yet a public responsibility, households lived close to their own putrescence. — Curbed, 12 Aug. 2022 There was no evidence to suggest the existence of four receptor classes, rather than three, or five, or ten; nor was there any serious reason to believe that acidity and goatiness—but not, say, florality or putrescence—were fundamentals of odor. — Scott Sayare, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021 In various states of putrescence—worms wriggling, entrails dangling—cadavers rise from their graves to join the Dance of Death. — Felipe Fernández-Armesto, WSJ, 24 Apr. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for putrescence

Noun

Investigators found no identification at the scene, and extreme decomposition prevented them from obtaining DNA from the bodies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
If the soils were not saturated, microbial decomposition would happen too quickly, breaking down organic matter before the thick layers of peat, the signature of boglands, had a chance to form.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decomposition

Noun

But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
About 1 in 5 adults ages 20 to 64 has at least one untreated cavity, and nearly all adults 65 and older have dealt with tooth decay at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of decay

Browse Nearby Words

putrefying

putrescence

putrescent

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“Putrescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putrescence. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of putrescence

noun

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