1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
social critics claimed that their culture had become decadent and weak
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
From savory chili to a decadent tiramisu, here are 7 ways to make the most of Autumn’s best flavor.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
For dessert, the most decadent is chocolate dumplings with raspberry caramel and sea salt countering the sweetness.
—Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Adjective
The Peppermint Brownie Bark Shake offers customers a decadent blend of creamy vanilla soft serve with chocolate chunk brownie pieces and a sprinkle of cool, crushed peppermints.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
From savory chili to a decadent tiramisu, here are 7 ways to make the most of Autumn’s best flavor.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
My vision was to create a grab-and-go option that’s a little bit decadent without being a total sugar bomb.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
For dessert, the most decadent is chocolate dumplings with raspberry caramel and sea salt countering the sweetness.
—Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decadent
Adjective
-
In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Like people, joints naturally degenerate over time, and arthritis is particularly common in older pets.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lester fled, but Beau followed him, demanding the missing finger because without it, his corrupt past could come to light.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With fantastic views of the Bay of Lagos and a luxurious architectural setting, Al Sud serves a locavore tasting menu that’s delicate but not fussy, with fish and seafood from Sagres plus meat and produce from nearby farms.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Capacity at safari lodges is limited, as is access to parks and concessions; in return those lodges are luxurious, and the ecosystems around them pristine.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Gooneral’s attendees didn’t care that Malone was, from all available evidence, not a gooner at all but rather an unaffiliated, lone-wolf pervert.—
Daniel Kolitz,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Boiled down to a thoughtless pervert by the public, Six became one.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If Ritter is a masochist and a sadist, Eloise is a pure hedonist.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
21 Aug. 2025
-
This version of Trump is a lawsuit-happy hedonist who is literally in bed with Satan (in South Park, Satan is something of a lost soul, often ending up in abusive relationships).—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Cutaways to bits involving sad-sack local cop Maccarico (Marco Bonadei) interviewing kooky characters like an effete server (Milutin Dapcevic) at Taco King and Oreste getting a dressing down from his ex-wife, Arabella’s Mother (Margareth Made), just feel like mildly amusing filler.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Previous studies relied on a process known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies small or degraded fragments of DNA, allowing scientists to analyze genetic material even from old or damaged organic matter.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
-
For Capone, this high precedence of pinworm was incredibly surprising, given that the samples were over 1,000 years old and the DNA would have been highly degraded over such a long period of time.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The garments by the two designers are arranged side by side or facing each other, allowing visitors to appreciate the contrast between Balenciaga’s formal elegance and Alaïa’s sensual style.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
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This film took us on an unexpected journey through the hallucinating world of the rave dancers in the desert of Morocco, with the specificity of a journalist, and with all the sensual power of a filmmaker.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decadent. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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