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
Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
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
Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
And what with all the love and pain, something in me softened—or maybe decayed.
—Eva Wiseman, Vogue, 7 May 2026
Some decayed quickly, effectively disappearing without having done much harm.
—Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
It was revealed in court that the beech tree at the center of the incident had decayed prior to the branch falling, according to the Evening News and BBC.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
This correlation survived as the quarks formed hyperons and persisted even after the hyperons decayed in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
If these materials are already partly decayed, they’re called compost.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
Discard any that look dead or decayed.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
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
But since sitting vacant, the property has decayed and listed in city property records as unoccupiable.
—Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
And what with all the love and pain, something in me softened—or maybe decayed.
—Eva Wiseman, Vogue, 7 May 2026
Some decayed quickly, effectively disappearing without having done much harm.
—Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
It was revealed in court that the beech tree at the center of the incident had decayed prior to the branch falling, according to the Evening News and BBC.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
This correlation survived as the quarks formed hyperons and persisted even after the hyperons decayed in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
If these materials are already partly decayed, they’re called compost.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
Adjective
-
As her life begins overlapping with the events of the film, she’s confronted with her own degenerate desires, as the Nazis would call them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Now playback all the degenerate, violent entertainment Julianne has happily participated in throughout her career.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Anyone on the market for a new house over the past six years has had rotten luck.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Advocates say the rotten food and lack of basic medical care is so bad some detainees are even on a hunger strike.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
There have been in-kind donations, and the city has contributed materials such as gravel and decomposed granite for walking paths.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Biodegradable waste consists of organic materials, such as food scraps, vegetable peels, paper, leaves, and agricultural residues, that can be decomposed naturally through microbial processes.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Analysts say the White House would favor a right-wing candidate, and that a victory for either Valencia or de la Espriella would probably mean a return to closer cooperation with Washington on security policy, after relations deteriorated under Petro.—
Catherine Ellis,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
Regarding their own industries, CEO assessments about current conditions and expectations in six months deteriorated since last quarter.—
Sarah Min,Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Those who adapted survived; many who didn't faded.—
Motaz Agamawi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Once the hashmarks, Boise State logo and end zone markings found their way onto the field, many of the jokes faded.—
Shaun Goodwin
May 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Tensions first escalated over Memorial Day weekend when hundreds of detainees went on a hunger strike to protest spoiled food and wretched conditions, some of their lawyers said.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Rebellions were common and pitted spoiled students against helpless teachers.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Pots simmered on the stove with paella, fruit rotted in bowls next to the junk mail, and the pantry was full of old rusted cans of strange unearthly edibles—bamboo shoots and snails in sauce and lemons floating in brine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
That last line is a nod for the brain-rotted among us.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decayed. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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