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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decaying
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
China’s out-of-control module had been abandoned in a decaying orbit ever since it was cut loose from the Shenzhou-15 capsule returning three Chinese astronauts from their country’s space station in 2023.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Springtails eat microscopic algae, bacteria, fungi or other decaying plant matter, according to MSU's Plant and Pest Diagnostics.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Damaged and decaying roots can’t absorb water and nutrients, causing leaves to wilt and turn yellow.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026
Curious about a decaying mill building and an effort to preserve it, de Rezendes started doing research.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 19 Jan. 2026
Instead of emerging spring plants and wildflowers, the forest is carpeted with decaying black oak leaves blown from nearby trees while a few still cling to nearly naked branches.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
In essence, this would mean that alpha particles (helium nuclei) released by decaying uranium (or some other fissile material) would be focused through engine nozzles to generate thrust.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
By the time of his death in 2013, Venezuela’s economy was already decaying, its institutions hollowed, and its future mortgaged.
—Duncan S. Demarsh, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 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
Verb
The new coach of the Miami Dolphins played his college football at Siena, with home games before small crowds at what was a decaying minor-league baseball field in a suburb of Albany, New York.
—CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
China’s out-of-control module had been abandoned in a decaying orbit ever since it was cut loose from the Shenzhou-15 capsule returning three Chinese astronauts from their country’s space station in 2023.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Springtails eat microscopic algae, bacteria, fungi or other decaying plant matter, according to MSU's Plant and Pest Diagnostics.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Damaged and decaying roots can’t absorb water and nutrients, causing leaves to wilt and turn yellow.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026
Curious about a decaying mill building and an effort to preserve it, de Rezendes started doing research.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 19 Jan. 2026
Instead of emerging spring plants and wildflowers, the forest is carpeted with decaying black oak leaves blown from nearby trees while a few still cling to nearly naked branches.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
In essence, this would mean that alpha particles (helium nuclei) released by decaying uranium (or some other fissile material) would be focused through engine nozzles to generate thrust.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
By the time of his death in 2013, Venezuela’s economy was already decaying, its institutions hollowed, and its future mortgaged.
—Duncan S. Demarsh, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decaying
Noun
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Research has also overwhelmingly indicated that lack of sleep can lead to numerous health detriments, including chronic disease, mental health deterioration and even behavioral disorders.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Space travel has also been found to accelerate bone density loss and the destruction of blood cells, put pressure on the eyes that can cause vision problems, and lead to deterioration of muscle strength.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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So now, the ramshackle Coinjock School sits in the restaurant’s backyard and his plan for restoration keeps getting more ambitious with each passing year.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Yous’ home, the eye-popping standout of Ryu Seong-hie’s production design, is a similarly enormous but earthier, more ramshackle affair.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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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
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In desert regions, natural mummification is common due to the dry conditions where fungi and bacteria can’t thrive on a decomposing corpse.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In town, the painter also notes the reek of decomposing bodies, of garbage, of blood streaming out of the butcher shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Conditions at many of the detention centers were rapidly deteriorating.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Khamenei has repeatedly blamed Israel and the United States for fomenting the protests, which broke out in response to deteriorating economic conditions.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But her role as fading movie star Kay Stone in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, opposite Timothée Chalamet, marks her grand return.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
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The days of underground stashes and whispered conversations are fading fast.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Teeth become diseased with decay and resorptive lesions and, when removed, these cats often lead much happier and more comfortable lives.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
These fission reactors relied on the slow decay of uranium to generate heat and electricity.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The result was a gleaming skyscraper held up by some rickety wooden boards, duct tape, and magic.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
14 Nov. 2025
-
Everything looks so rickety — this stadium wasn’t built for pandemonium like this.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decaying. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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