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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
The leather on the shoes appears to be slightly decayed, worn, cracked and brittle, while the laces and midsole are stained, giving a distressed, lived-in effect.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
In due course of time, the organic material decayed, and the skeleton underneath fossilized over longer timescales.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
In other words, the original skin inside the clay layer must have decayed and washed away, while the same groundwater saturated the bones en route to their fossilization.
—Paul C. Sereno, The Conversation, 24 Oct. 2025
Then, weeks after they were buried, the soft parts of the carcasses decayed and were washed away by groundwater, leaving the clay mask to forever preserve the forms of what lay just beneath, Sereno says.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 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
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
The leather on the shoes appears to be slightly decayed, worn, cracked and brittle, while the laces and midsole are stained, giving a distressed, lived-in effect.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
In due course of time, the organic material decayed, and the skeleton underneath fossilized over longer timescales.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
In other words, the original skin inside the clay layer must have decayed and washed away, while the same groundwater saturated the bones en route to their fossilization.
—Paul C. Sereno, The Conversation, 24 Oct. 2025
Then, weeks after they were buried, the soft parts of the carcasses decayed and were washed away by groundwater, leaving the clay mask to forever preserve the forms of what lay just beneath, Sereno says.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
Adjective
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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
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The conceit is probably most similar to Mark Monroe’s Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose, a four-part HBO film that the baseball career hits leader and reluctantly admitted degenerate gambler hoped would reopen establishment doors and set him up for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Thick ice is rotten after rain.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fifty-six days later, homicide investigators arrive at Oliver’s apartment to find an unidentified body—brutally murdered and intentionally decomposed.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Feb. 2026
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The body was decomposed, a fire official said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eventually, her health deteriorated to the point that Ingram left the team to see her back home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Since she was detained, Kordia’s faith has grown immensely, but her physical health has deteriorated, her cousin said.—
Rachel Royster
January 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her nurse scooped her up and ran to put her into a cold bath, and slowly the motions faded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Sun-faded and well-worn, a great pair of distressed jeans can tell a story in its patches and tears.—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Why Gasket Maintenance Is Essential A dirty gasket leads to deterioration of the seal, which can cause temperature fluctuations, spoiled food, and bacterial growth.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
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Check the expiration dates, especially for ingredients like spices and leavening agents that might not look spoiled but can lose their potency, and toss any expired or unwanted items.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Politically, the regime has rotted from within, discarding, discrediting, or detaining its own kind.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
-
That includes money to replace a lot of wood that rotted away due to holes in the roof and walls.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decayed. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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