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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun decadence differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decadence are decline, degeneration, and deterioration. While all these words mean "the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality," decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

How are the words decline and decadence related?

Decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

the meteoric decline of his career after the scandal

When could degeneration be used to replace decadence?

The words degeneration and decadence can be used in similar contexts, but degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

When might deterioration be a better fit than decadence?

The words deterioration and decadence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

the deterioration of the house through neglect

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of decadence Etienne’s aesthetic has always trafficked in the conventions of dance-pop, but their songs are hopeful and wide-eyed, avoiding any hints of hedonistic decadence. Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025 Premier League fans are in for a west London derby of decadence as title-chasing Chelsea hosts Fulham on Saturday. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025 Serve with the honey garlic butter on the side—or for more decadence, toss the pieces in a bowl with the butter. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025 Just like buttermilk in biscuits, cottage cheese can lend some extra tang and decadence to many comfort foods like lasagnas and casseroles. Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decadence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decadence
Noun
  • Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years.
    Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Indeed, September’s deterioration doesn’t signal the first time the indicator has entered recession territory—it’s been there since February 2025—but marks a further step away from a healthy outlook over a prolonged period of time.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This plug design prevents the palladium from shrinking or clumping at high heat—the degradation that limits conventional films.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Though the ancient species once soared over most of the continent, by the mid-20th century, the population of condors had dramatically declined due to habitat degradation, lead poisoning, shooting and the use of DDT pesticide.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Treasury yields fell Wednesday after new data showed a surprise decline in private payrolls, while traders monitored the consequences of the government shutdown after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on the federal funding bill.
    Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The company may still boast one of Silicon Valley’s most storied names, but its staff, which numbered 96,000 as of the end of July, had worked for years through nearly uninterrupted decline, watching their company lose nearly all relevance.
    Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In 2019, the 37-year-old Bukele ran for president as a populist outsider promising to defeat crime and corruption in a nation with one of the world’s worst homicide rates and a history of former presidents being charged with crimes.
    T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Milei has had more success taming Argentina’s hyperinflation than first expected, but has been dealing with a brewing currency crisis and several corruption scandals.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Presenting their findings in a lengthy declination memo, the prosecutors explicitly mentioned the two other investigations to bolster their recommendation that probable cause does not exist to charge Comey, according to sources familiar with the contents of the memo.
    Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
  • On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This rapid descent keeps the drone stable in turbulent air and minimizes wind interference.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The elder Mamdani grew up in Uganda, in East Africa, in a community of Ugandans of Indian descent, known as the Bayindi, who played a prominent role in the country until Idi Amin expelled them en masse in 1972.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decadence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decadence. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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