as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the decaying of the bone mass that is so regrettably common in elderly women
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ramshackle
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in dying
Related Words
1
as in decomposing
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 deteriorating
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 fading
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 decaying
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Since then, sediment and decaying organic matter have built up at the bottom of the lake, dropping the average water depth to less than 2½ feet, according to a city staff report about the project.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Put simply, fairy rings usually mean there’s decaying organic material beneath your lawn that underground fungi are feeding on.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 May 2026
We’re surrounded by decaying media of the past.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The woman, her husband, Peter Temple, and the couple's 12 children, ages five to 17, were able to spend time at home with Pandora before her funeral thanks to a cooling bassinet, a medical device that preserves a baby's body and slows the decaying process through cold temperatures.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
During a collision, gas clouds could be thrown down toward each galaxy’s center and ultimately fall into decaying orbits around each awaiting black hole, forming huge disks there that would become extremely hot and potentially extremely bright.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 May 2026
Inspect the area around your home and yard for decaying wood.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
The problem is worsened by thatch since fungi feed on decaying plant matter.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 May 2026
Noun
For the study, Ruotsalainen measured the Q values of two double-beta decaying and one beta-decaying nucleus.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
—Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Verb
The only thing that could apparently harm them was proximity to decaying tissues of other species.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Since then, sediment and decaying organic matter have built up at the bottom of the lake, dropping the average water depth to less than 2½ feet, according to a city staff report about the project.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Put simply, fairy rings usually mean there’s decaying organic material beneath your lawn that underground fungi are feeding on.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 May 2026
We’re surrounded by decaying media of the past.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The woman, her husband, Peter Temple, and the couple's 12 children, ages five to 17, were able to spend time at home with Pandora before her funeral thanks to a cooling bassinet, a medical device that preserves a baby's body and slows the decaying process through cold temperatures.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
During a collision, gas clouds could be thrown down toward each galaxy’s center and ultimately fall into decaying orbits around each awaiting black hole, forming huge disks there that would become extremely hot and potentially extremely bright.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 May 2026
Inspect the area around your home and yard for decaying wood.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
The problem is worsened by thatch since fungi feed on decaying plant matter.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decaying
Noun
-
Once that protective layer is compromised, even minor openings can lead to ongoing water intrusion that causes leaks, wood damage, microbial growth and structural deterioration over time.—
David Nye,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
-
Membrane degradation, electrolyte deterioration and unnecessary stress on the electrolysis system all reduce asset value over time.—
Gregory Shahnovsky,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Manning the decks is the Hacker, Miss Kittin’s partner in crime, who flips the sawmill machinery of Dave Stewart’s production into ramshackle Miami bass.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
23 May 2026
-
Easy Company found themselves in a ramshackle compound, cut off and heavily outnumbered by the Taliban in the town.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Christopher Glen of The Fertilizer Institute told CNN that contamination can also come from urban stormwater, decomposing organic matter and vehicle emissions.—
Ryan Brennan
May 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 May 2026
-
From a nearby dumpster there came the sweet and musty smell of decomposing seafood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The project, which began with foundation work in 2022 and expanded to roadway construction in 2023, includes replacing the deteriorating bridge deck, widening shoulders and adding carpool lanes in both directions.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
The technical setup is deteriorating, too, as fewer stocks participate in the rally and momentum stalls.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
There had been concern that these houses would not appreciate at the same rate as traditional homes, but that appears to be fading.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
-
Even Nyro’s piano playing seems to shift in and out of focus, drawing our attention to the pregnant pause of a note fading in a quiet room.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
24 May 2026
Noun
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The 1970s were an evolutionary step for global science fiction films, with some of the most pivotal and game-changing releases helping to expand the genre by addressing environmental issues, political unrest, technology anxiety, societal decay, and existential questions of life and death.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Protects against rot and water infiltration, reducing the risk of weakening, structural failure, and decay.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
For years, many of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority have embarked on rickety wooden boats to try to reach neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, in a bid to flee persecution in Myanmar or overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
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Your sunnies should be comfortable and durable, not rickety!—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decaying. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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