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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
Adjective
-
Be classy, yet still maintain some of your degenerate tendencies.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Too much water can lead to rotten roots or fungal infections.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Demand is highest when the weather is at its worst, which subjects you to freezing temperatures and rotten road conditions.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Halleck adds coffee grounds need to be decomposed by microbes first to release nitrogen and other nutrients.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Her body was so badly decomposed; no DNA swab could be taken.—
Mary Murphy,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This new norm deteriorated in Obama’s second term, when a series of individuals climbed FDR’s low fence, including one who popped through the mansion’s main door in 2014.—
Neil Flanagan,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
-
The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were live-streamed across the globe.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
With time, with therapy, with growth, this thing has faded into the past, dissolved into other narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Based on the popular 1960s spy sitcom, this weak adaptation casts Steve Carell as a bumbling secret agent, with Hathaway as his more competent partner and developing love interest.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
In particular, researchers experimentally demonstrated quadsqueezing, a complex fourth-order quantum interaction previously considered too weak to observe.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
My girl's gonna get spoiled — that's for sure — from Aunt Julianne.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
Ann and Pat later moved to a 10-acre farm east of Franktown, where Schrader gardened, raised hens, spoiled cats and hoisted 50-pound bales of hay among other chores for the family’s eight horses.—
Billie Stanton,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That last line is a nod for the brain-rotted among us.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Uncollected garbage rotted in heaps, and people cued outside of bakeries for their daily government ration of bread.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decayed. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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