decades-long
adjective
de·cades-long
ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ 
variants
or less commonly decadeslong
: lasting two or more decades : occurring over a period of two or more decades
a decades-long career
… no discussion of wolf research would be complete without mention of this fascinating, decades-long study.—
Robert R. Ream
Robert R. ReamHis decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …—Stephen Mihm
Stephen MihmExamples of decades-long in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But experts say the proposal does not change the reality for the nearly 10 million people who live in Tehran and are now suffering the consequences of a decades-long decline in water supply.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025
His decades-long ability to adapt is one reason directors as different as John Boorman, Neil Jordan, Miloš Forman, Guy Ritchie and Tim Burton kept calling.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
Howard High School's girls volleyball team ended a decades-long drought, winning the school a state championship on Saturday.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
But whether charging athletes, coaches and other sports figures with crimes that carry decades-long prison sentences deters wrongful acts is a wager itself.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decades-long
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.
Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025
His decades-long ability to adapt is one reason directors as different as John Boorman, Neil Jordan, Miloš Forman, Guy Ritchie and Tim Burton kept calling.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
Howard High School's girls volleyball team ended a decades-long drought, winning the school a state championship on Saturday.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
But whether charging athletes, coaches and other sports figures with crimes that carry decades-long prison sentences deters wrongful acts is a wager itself.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decades-long
Cite this Entry
“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share