1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
a candidate who vehemently rejects the idea that liberalism is a decayed political philosophy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
we routinely throw all decayed or unwanted organic matter into our compost heap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in decomposed
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decayed
Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Aug. 2025
The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2025
Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Class sizes in many districts have grown, support services have dwindled and buildings have decayed.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
Violations can be written for peeling paint, leaking roof, electrical and plumbing problems, holes in the wall, floor and ceiling, and decayed wood.
—Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Some had decayed for years, others several months, according to the affidavit.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
When excavations first began in the mid-1700s, everything beneath the ash layer was still preserved — but the top floors had decayed and disappeared.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The color comes from the water soaking in peat, partially decayed plant matter that can be hundreds of years old.
—Sheeka Sanahori, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Some are sandy; others are rich in organic matter formed from centuries of decayed plants.
—Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Aug. 2025
The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2024, Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that Clearlake and Boehly each explored buying the other one out as the relationship between them decayed.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Class sizes in many districts have grown, support services have dwindled and buildings have decayed.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
Violations can be written for peeling paint, leaking roof, electrical and plumbing problems, holes in the wall, floor and ceiling, and decayed wood.
—Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Some had decayed for years, others several months, according to the affidavit.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
When excavations first began in the mid-1700s, everything beneath the ash layer was still preserved — but the top floors had decayed and disappeared.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The color comes from the water soaking in peat, partially decayed plant matter that can be hundreds of years old.
—Sheeka Sanahori, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
Adjective
-
The latest film from Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa follows a 19-year-old degenerate raver from London who, in the last gasp of an all-time bender, is kidnapped by Stephen Graham and chained up in the basement of a posh estate.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
But it’s most often used in a more contemporary story as an ancestral home of an ancient, perhaps even rotten Establishment.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
False teeth had been used since Colonial years, with various attempts to replace rotten teeth that had been extracted to avoid illness.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In both cases, the remains were decomposed, and appeared that they may have been moved around multiple locations before being discovered, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
As water conservation is a priority more than ever, homeowners are discovering sustainable hardscaping options like gravel and decomposed granite.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some claimed that her mental health had deteriorated.—
Anika Burgess,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The move to change the clock came after relations between the United States and Canada deteriorated.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The legal battle faded to the background.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Synchronized blinking faded when the researchers sped up the Bach chorales to 120 beats per minute.—
Jesse Greenspan,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The United States is, to her knowledge, the only country maintaining such a ban for nearly a century via Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act—even in its weaker form with the domestic consumption loophole.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Lessons from gold and small-caps The recent spike in oil prices has not resulted in spectacular gains for gold investors fueled by a weaker dollar, as was the case in 1973.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Smart, capable and quick-witted, Toha’s current joy comes from her relationship with Nelly (Khadija Ahmed), the spoiled granddaughter of her employer (Hanan Youssef), a tetchy, elderly diabetic.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
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Trump may be a little spoiled, as the Republican-majority high court has supported most of his positions.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How to Plant Bare Root Roses Carefully inspect the roots and cut off any that are broken, cracked, rotted, or show signs of insect damage.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Dead fruit rotted on withered evergreens, remnants of a record-cold February.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decayed. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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