1
as in decomposes
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 fades
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 decays
The heartwood in the tree’s center decays first and makes for easy excavating.
—
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Sep. 2025
This could include some sort of novel, exotic form of mass or energy, a non-standard form of dark matter or dark energy that decays or otherwise interacts, or a modification to one or more laws of physics.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Competitive advantage now decays in months, not years.
—Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As the emitter naturally decays, electrons (in the form of beta particles) strike the absorber.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
So as radioactive uranium slowly decays into lead, the ratio of uranium to lead provides the age of the crystal.
—Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
This technique relies on the fact that naturally occurring uranium decays over long but well-known periods of time to eventually transform into lead.
—Briana Pobiner, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025
Because plutonium-238 decays slowly, losing only half its atoms over about 90 years, an RTG is ideal for missions that outlast the life span of typical batteries, fuel cells, or solar panels.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Apr. 2025
The audio isn't much to listen to—just some static followed by a staticky explosive noise that decays in swirling fashion for multiple seconds.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Sep. 2025
This could include some sort of novel, exotic form of mass or energy, a non-standard form of dark matter or dark energy that decays or otherwise interacts, or a modification to one or more laws of physics.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Competitive advantage now decays in months, not years.
—Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As the emitter naturally decays, electrons (in the form of beta particles) strike the absorber.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
So as radioactive uranium slowly decays into lead, the ratio of uranium to lead provides the age of the crystal.
—Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
This technique relies on the fact that naturally occurring uranium decays over long but well-known periods of time to eventually transform into lead.
—Briana Pobiner, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025
Because plutonium-238 decays slowly, losing only half its atoms over about 90 years, an RTG is ideal for missions that outlast the life span of typical batteries, fuel cells, or solar panels.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Apr. 2025
The audio isn't much to listen to—just some static followed by a staticky explosive noise that decays in swirling fashion for multiple seconds.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decays
Verb
-
When leaves fall to the ground, the carbon stays in these leaves, breaks down, and decomposes and releases nutrients back into the soil that plants can take in.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The calculation, called the Fourier transform, decomposes any function into its parts.—
Shalma Wegsman,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As anger fades into apathy and grief is aggravated by guilt, the public also chooses silence.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
With Ka-young’s help, Iblis is able to destroy the Flower of Eternal Life, which had allowed Khalid to live forever (at least until this point), and the villain fades to dust.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Recruits typically come from deprived areas, and as Russia’s economy disintegrates in slow motion, the bonanza offered by the army looks increasingly appealing.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
At times, the house would break apart onstage, with the top half lifted in the air, only for YoungBoy to start aggressively rapping, standing supreme while the house crumbles around him.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The film reportedly follows Streep’s Miranda as the magazine industry crumbles around her.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If Britain continues down the path of criminalizing thought and prayer, the alliance risks being reduced to polite diplomacy while its moral core rots away.—
Lois McLatchie Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Slide Away then descends on Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium on May 29 and 30 with Cryogeyser, Mint Field, Ovlov, Seko, and Terraplana rounding out the lineup.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The slow ascent lasts about half a mile before the trail descends down a hillside.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decays. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share