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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
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
-
Reviews not so good right now at 57% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The beams holding up the room were rotten, and had to be replaced or the room was eventually going to give way underneath.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 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
-
The body was decomposed, a fire official said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike conventional implants that anchor in the jawbone, zygomatic implants extend into the cheekbone (zygoma), which remains dense even when jaw bone has deteriorated.—
Malana VanTyler,
jsonline.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Thousands of doctors being paid state wages that can hardly afford them a carton of eggs have emigrated from the country and hospitals have rapidly deteriorated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One year after their deaths, those closest to Hackman and Arakawa say their legacy is not defined by tragedy, but by devotion — a partnership rooted in privacy, dignity and a love story that endured long after Hollywood faded from view.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The shock that we could be attacked on our own soil by people who infiltrated the country with the purpose of attacking it has faded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The past four years of conflict have exposed more than one faulty assumption, not least the previously widespread belief even among Kyiv’s allies that Ukraine would be too weak, too disorganized, to resist a full-scale invasion.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … PARTY RECKONING — Cortez Masto admits Democrats have been 'weak on immigration,' chides Biden.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Melling’s scenes all took place in the objectively less exciting muggle universe, occurring along a fairly straightforward arc from spoiled bully to remorseful young adult.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
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Violations included spoiled ice cream, expired tacos, warm dairy drinks and plumbing issues.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 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 23 Feb. 2026.
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