as in to disintegrate
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decay
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the unmistakable smell of decomposition led us to some fruit that had fallen behind the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decompose
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
To test if maggots could spike those isotope levels, the researchers analyzed fly larvae feeding on decomposing human muscle tissue.
—Jay Kakade
december 31, New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The findings are set to be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, and are available as two pre-prints, one detailing the analysis of merging galaxies and AGN, and the other describing the AI image decomposition tool.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Verb
The earthy scent of decomposing leaves and soil contributes to the smell.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
To test if maggots could spike those isotope levels, the researchers analyzed fly larvae feeding on decomposing human muscle tissue.
—Jay Kakade
december 31, New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
To compost, tear the tissue paper into small pieces to speed up decomposition.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The findings are set to be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, and are available as two pre-prints, one detailing the analysis of merging galaxies and AGN, and the other describing the AI image decomposition tool.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
-
Dark Skies does an excellent job of using an alien threat as a metaphor for the pressures on the nuclear American family that lead to so many of them disintegrating.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Over the years, the roof disintegrated and many of the windows are broken.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Keep the mulch at least two inches away from woody stems to prevent decay and disease.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Tyranids represent man's fear of the natural world, nature's inexorable ability to overwhelm, decay, and devour all of man's greatest works.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rourke alleged that the floors were rotted, there was no running water in a couple of places there should have been and the place was infested with rodents.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Their roots need air, and soil can be too dense and lead to rotting roots.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Better Balanced Blood Sugar The fermentation process used to make sourdough produces organic acids, such as lactic and acetic acids, which help slow the absorption of starch in the digestive tract.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Sourdough gets its signature flavor and texture from fermentation with wild yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Nikolai Gogol’s will specified that his corpse must show visible signs of putrefaction before burial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Likely only dead individuals, floating as gases formed by putrefaction accumulated in body cavities, entered the lagoon.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompose. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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