as in to disintegrate
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
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Recent Examples of decompose
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
Some of those included mummified hands and feet and decomposing torsos.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.
—Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Some of those included mummified hands and feet and decomposing torsos.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.
—Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
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The Stars had rebounded from a season-worst, six-match winless skid to construct a three-game points streak, which disintegrated on Tuesday in just their second loss in eight tail ends of back-to-back sets.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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In even the most straightforward Tanner Matt production, there’s a moment where everything threatens to disintegrate.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s also more food than anyone knows what to do with; mangoes fall from trees, rot, and get crushed by golf carts.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
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Stout was a legendary gardener whose only garden input other than water was rotting hay.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompose. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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