1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
social critics claimed that their culture had become decadent and weak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
opponents of gambling casinos claim that gambling is a decadent form of entertainment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in luxurious
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires
the impressionable heiress couldn't resist the decadent temptations of the jet-set life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
avant-garde artists who were scorned by the bourgeoisie as talentless decadents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hedonist
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures
a decadent who squandered her once considerable family fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decadent
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Adding decadent dishes like beef Wellington and prawn cocktail isn't just a step back in time.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2025
Perhaps the only thing more decadent than a high-end steakhouse is a high-end steakhouse in Las Vegas.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Adjective
Frankenstein is nominated for nine Oscars, the bulk of which highlight its decadent design, all rooted in the kind of deep, immersive research that Deverell describes.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Adding decadent dishes like beef Wellington and prawn cocktail isn't just a step back in time.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Adding to the decadent painting’s lore, Alma-Tadema allegedly had thousands of roses shipped from France to his London studio when completing the work.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2025
Perhaps the only thing more decadent than a high-end steakhouse is a high-end steakhouse in Las Vegas.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decadent
Adjective
-
Today, the urgent challenge before the royal family and many other institutions protected by mystique is whether the often degenerate select few in charge can still persuade the mass of people to remain beguiled and accept authority.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For reasons still not wholly understood, these ultradense objects—each about the mass of our star squeezed into a bizarre, city-sized ball of degenerate quantum matter—undergo starquakes in which the material on the surface shifts a bit like in an earthly tremor.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The corrupt a-s psychopath prosecutors’ office.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The film stars Jake Busey (Stranger Things) as Dirk, a corrupt cop who partners with an eager, broke assistant named Jeff Klima, played by Felix Merback (Blood Star).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Burch showed rich tapestry opera coats with coordinating heels, beaded secretary sweaters with high-slit pencil skirts and grandpa’s snuggly cords and sweaters done with a more luxurious, indulgent hand.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Guests can tour the 50-hectare landscape, enjoy fresh local dishes, culinary and wellness workshops, and rest easy in a luxurious lodge for an overnight stay.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
You are being spied on by a pervert.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Another cousin, the son of my industrialist uncle, has given up regattas and the hedonist’s life for a position in his father’s company that is, like all companies in Turkey, faltering under the tremendous burden of an economy in tailspin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Maison Souquet Just across the street from the Moulin Rouge, the marvelously lavish Maison Souquet offers a sensual retreat that pays homage to the hideaway’s former reputation as a discreet brothel for wealthy hedonists.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Scarf critics accuse the accessory—and by extension, its wearers—of being effete or affected.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
1 Dec. 2025
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What we’re left with is an effete description that exists for itself and doesn’t illuminate the character.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On top of that, particles from tire wear, litter, and degraded plastics elsewhere can settle out of the air or arrive with runoff.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Problems with insulation can be caused by freezes due to the freeze-thaw cycle, which can lead to degraded insulation.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The comments section was filled with love for Kidman’s sweet yet sensual social media post, including from celebrity friend Michelle Pfeiffer.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The combustible mix of sensual spitfire and mama-bear ferocity has made Angela a controversial presence on the show.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decadent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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