1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rot
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of decay
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The sediment close to their roots can be as sweet as fruit nectars or tree sap, although to human tongues the mud tastes overwhelmingly of salt and decay.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Steve Zeidman, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Walked with us through rundown streets and into decaying alleyways.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decay
Noun
The universe, however, consists of matter but almost no antimatter, which exists naturally only in small quantities, created by radioactive decay and cosmic ray collisions.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The sediment close to their roots can be as sweet as fruit nectars or tree sap, although to human tongues the mud tastes overwhelmingly of salt and decay.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
In addition to the decaying physical structure, Richards highlighted a decrease in correction officer staffing levels such that people inside do not feel safe.
—Steve Zeidman, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Walked with us through rundown streets and into decaying alleyways.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
Noun
-
Prosecutors said the owners were given multiple warnings about the roof's deterioration and were even urged to cancel the concert that was going on at the time of the collapse.—
Jennifer Bisram,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In addition, physical deterioration has become a concern over time.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The system begins by preprocessing battery data using a technique called complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, warmer water temperatures and the decomposition of organic material can promote bacterial growth.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Metal stakes resist rot but can rust if not stored properly.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Routine gutter cleaning prevents water damage to your roof and siding, protects your foundation from pooling water, avoids mold, mildew and rot, and keeps pests like insects and rodents from nesting in the debris.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite his professional success, his home life deteriorates, particularly his relationship with his daughter.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The lawsuit says the hospital did not tell his family that Hylton’s condition had deteriorated and that he had been transferred to the ICU without a doctor on-site.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When momentum faded, the stock rolled over, and those same lines flipped to resistance on the way down.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The letters are printed on the sides of the keys rather than the top, which prevents fading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On Saturday, storm chances increase, especially west of DFW, but some weakening is possible as storms move east.—
Nelly Carreno,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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The new business frontiers do not indicate a weakening in the AP’s standards of providing fast, accurate, non-biased news, leaders said.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Drainage problems and decomposing leaves and mulch will quickly attract them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From crumbling stacks of CDs — featuring Prince, Paul Simon, Kylie Minogue, and PJ Harvey — to old jewelry boxes, and even her beloved first copy of Brothers Grimm’s Fairytale, every item held countless memories that helped Humberstone shape her second album Cruel World.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2026
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If the dinosaurs and woolly mammoths that once roamed the Earth had since crumbled into dust, then what hope was there for humanity?—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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