decades-long

adjective

de·​cades-long ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce decades-long (audio)
variants or less commonly decadeslong
: lasting two or more decades : occurring over a period of two or more decades
… no discussion of wolf research would be complete without mention of this fascinating, decades-long study.Robert R. Ream
His decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …Stephen Mihm

Examples of decades-long in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In her decades-long career, Goodall used her experience and fame to raise awareness to the dwindling chimpanzee populations and also the perils of environmental destruction. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025 But historian Tani Munz writes that American Adrian Wenner doubted Frisch’s theory itself, leading to a decades-long feud. Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 1 Oct. 2025 Court filings over the past three years have detailed the decades-long saga behind both investigations, describing how police were stifled repeatedly and left with nowhere to turn, until one woman living on the streets of Fairfield came forward with a tip that changed everything. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 Gomez and Swift have a decades-long history of supporting one another. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decades-long

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decades-long was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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