1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rot
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 to deteriorate
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 to fade
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decay
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Former New York Daily News reporter Frank Isola covered the Knicks for the hometown newspaper and remembers the slow and excruciating decay at Madison Square Garden.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Each probe is powered by three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) fueled by decaying plutonium-238.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decay
Noun
Even if your mouth feels fine, a professional may be able to pick up on smaller signals before the decay grows.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Former New York Daily News reporter Frank Isola covered the Knicks for the hometown newspaper and remembers the slow and excruciating decay at Madison Square Garden.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Verb
All of this allows Lithgow and Rush to take this decaying senior rivalry to the heights, even veering into campiness as Lithgow stages a musical performance of a children’s song with Jenny as his partner.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Each probe is powered by three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) fueled by decaying plutonium-238.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
Noun
-
Respondents perceive a significant reduction in the probability of a severe deterioration in economic prospects.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
-
Rossetti had been working on the CONCERN Study, which had successfully developed an AI model to detect patient deterioration in the hospital setting.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The oversized chair duo is made from environmentally friendly materials that are weather-resistant and won’t crack, fade, peel, or rot.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2025
-
The world may have left England to rot (a subplot involving a foreign soldier implies that other nations have taken an active interest in helping that process along), but any society that allows an entire country to become an open-air graveyard is sick with a terrible virus of its own.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
However, the situation is expected to deteriorate further as Netanyahu gave a public speech saying Israel’s military action may last several days.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Eventually, Paley’s eyesight deteriorated due to diabetes.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Molasses is food for soil microbes—tiny living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa—that decompose organic matter, improve soil structure, and make nutrients available to plants, Fox says.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2025
-
The microbes perform vital functions like decomposing organic matter, improving water-holding capacity, cycling nutrients, and suppressing pathogens to improve plant resilience and overall soil health.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
As the Blatter regime down the road at FIFA began to crumble, Platini became the heir apparent.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
-
But the friendship crumbled under the weight of ego, the 2016 election, marathon training, and Carole’s younger boyfriend, Adam.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
Since then, a series of shifts has reshaped the Middle East and weakened Iran and its proxies, the war in Gaza, Israel's decimation of the leadership of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the collapse of the Syrian regime, and now Israel's surprise attack.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2025
-
Should the economy unexpectedly weaken, larger and sooner cuts are possible.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
In its most recent demonstration May 27, Starship spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball before achieving some of its most important objectives.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
-
Laura’s house is a messy, colorful disaster, reflecting a personality that was clearly once charmingly ditzy and has disintegrated into instability.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share