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
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
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, 22 Oct. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
After extinguishing the fire, officials found Robert Hill, 44, deceased with severe burns, apparent head trauma, and signs of decomposition, according to Melesa Johnson with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Verb
Shortly after the first frosts, potato vines will begin to decompose at a faster rate.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
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, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Eventually, the natural fungal spores will colonize, and decomposition will begin.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
After extinguishing the fire, officials found Robert Hill, 44, deceased with severe burns, apparent head trauma, and signs of decomposition, according to Melesa Johnson with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
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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
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Over the years, the roof disintegrated and many of the windows are broken.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Keep the mulch at least two inches away from woody stems to prevent decay and disease.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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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
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Like, rot-your-mind, hindbrain stimulation, violence/gore/goofy villains-type fun.—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Although pumpkins that have started to turn color can ripen off the vine, leaving them in the garden exposes them to slugs, rot, or damage from a hard freeze.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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Sourdough gets its signature flavor and texture from fermentation with wild yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Nikolai Gogol’s will specified that his corpse must show visible signs of putrefaction before burial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
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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 13 Nov. 2025.
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