as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the decaying of the bone mass that is so regrettably common in elderly women
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rotting
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ramshackle
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in dying
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decaying
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Filth Flies Little filth flies such as drain flies breed in sludge and decaying matter that can build up in drain pipes, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
Scientists have long suspected that the will-o’-the-wisp’s spectral glow came from a chemical reaction in gases released by decaying organic matter.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
If left standing, decaying leaves can attract rodents, like voles, by providing a cozy winter home.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
Although that serves as the lynchpin of Hinako's journey through both her decaying town and the Otherworld, a strange realm that manifests itself through Hinako's fears and anxieties, the teenager's journey is rooted in more than just angst.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
There is natural beauty, too, with landscapes of Trento, Italy’s trees changing and decaying over time informing a lot of the textures.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
For the study, Ruotsalainen measured the Q values of two double-beta decaying and one beta-decaying nucleus.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Dental crowns are caps placed over damaged or decaying teeth and can also serve as supports for dental bridges.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Filth Flies Little filth flies such as drain flies breed in sludge and decaying matter that can build up in drain pipes, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
Scientists have long suspected that the will-o’-the-wisp’s spectral glow came from a chemical reaction in gases released by decaying organic matter.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
If left standing, decaying leaves can attract rodents, like voles, by providing a cozy winter home.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
Although that serves as the lynchpin of Hinako's journey through both her decaying town and the Otherworld, a strange realm that manifests itself through Hinako's fears and anxieties, the teenager's journey is rooted in more than just angst.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
There is natural beauty, too, with landscapes of Trento, Italy’s trees changing and decaying over time informing a lot of the textures.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decaying
Noun
-
The sharp deterioration in air quality this week comes following celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which traditionally involves the widespread use of firecrackers which release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air, as well as harmful heavy metals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t to say writer and director Mary Bronstein’s film, about the agonizing deterioration of a woman whose life is falling down around her in near-apocalyptic fashion, isn’t worth watching.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gutters provide easy access to your home, and clogs can create moisture that leads to rotting wood that termites like.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Amir’s work and relationship start to suffer as he becomes obsessed with his rotting leg.—
Erik Piepenburg,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
An inspection also calls attention safety issues that require repairs, like cracks, a deteriorating liner, or problems with the flue or chimney cap.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to researcher and photographer Roberto García-Roa, the vibrant pigments that butterflies once relied on to attract mates and hide from prey are now fading away as colorful tropical forests are replaced with monochrome infrastructure.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The traditional distinctions between linear and streaming are fading away for sports, however.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The series, based on novels by Mick Herron, follows a band of castoffs from the British national security service who are relegated to a ramshackle office building, with Lamb at its head.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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Still, even if there were no rent freeze, Lee wouldn’t renovate his ramshackle apartment.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The setting catches America at a point of transition between an era of middle-class prosperity and the economic decay that was on the horizon.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Some nuclei will be stable against decays, others will undergo one or more decays (radioactively) before producing a stable end-product.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Another legend explains how in the distant past, the nefarious Lake Nyos was formed from the decomposing body of a Kom chief whose people had been tricked and murdered by the Bamessi tribe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Thatch is made up of decomposing grass stems and roots on the soil surface.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Its crumbling buildings swallowed by greenery are starkly beautiful and deeply eerie, even more so as the cooler seasons creep in and sea mists descend.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Sclerotic growth, stagnant real wages, and crumbling public services are generating profound dissatisfaction.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decaying. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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