as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
the decomposed remains of an old tree trunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decayed
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of decomposed
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
The Livonia Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the badly decomposed body of a man found March 28, partially submerged in the creek near Hines Drive and Levan Road.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 29 Mar. 2026
According to Silverman, the officers unzipped the bag and saw a decomposed head and torso.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Officers unzipped the bag and found a decomposed head and torso, according to the documents.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Consider filling the gaps with decomposed granite to give your flagstone garden path a more professional look.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Inside the container were the badly decomposed remains of an infant.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said Melodee's decomposed body was found in a rural area outside of Cainville in Wayne County, discovered by a man and a woman taking photos.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Constance catches Trisha on her way out and shows her Willem's decomposed body, which has finally been dug up and delivered home by Garret.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The detail was that Rivas’ body was not only badly decomposed when it was found – it had been dismembered and separated into two bags before being placed in the trunk of the Tesla.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
In both cases, the remains were decomposed, and appeared that they may have been moved around multiple locations before being discovered, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
As water conservation is a priority more than ever, homeowners are discovering sustainable hardscaping options like gravel and decomposed granite.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Some bodies are too far decomposed to be identified.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Fifty-six days later, homicide investigators arrive at Oliver’s apartment to find an unidentified body—brutally murdered and intentionally decomposed.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
The body was decomposed, a fire official said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
Since some of the soil has likely decomposed so a fresh layer may be needed in late February or before growth begins.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
From having the viscous juices of decomposed leaves that kept her plump leak through a tear in her side, as happened to a few of her siblings.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
The Livonia Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the badly decomposed body of a man found March 28, partially submerged in the creek near Hines Drive and Levan Road.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 29 Mar. 2026
According to Silverman, the officers unzipped the bag and saw a decomposed head and torso.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Officers unzipped the bag and found a decomposed head and torso, according to the documents.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Consider filling the gaps with decomposed granite to give your flagstone garden path a more professional look.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Inside the container were the badly decomposed remains of an infant.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said Melodee's decomposed body was found in a rural area outside of Cainville in Wayne County, discovered by a man and a woman taking photos.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Constance catches Trisha on her way out and shows her Willem's decomposed body, which has finally been dug up and delivered home by Garret.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
Verb
Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The detail was that Rivas’ body was not only badly decomposed when it was found – it had been dismembered and separated into two bags before being placed in the trunk of the Tesla.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
In both cases, the remains were decomposed, and appeared that they may have been moved around multiple locations before being discovered, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
As water conservation is a priority more than ever, homeowners are discovering sustainable hardscaping options like gravel and decomposed granite.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Some bodies are too far decomposed to be identified.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Fifty-six days later, homicide investigators arrive at Oliver’s apartment to find an unidentified body—brutally murdered and intentionally decomposed.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
The body was decomposed, a fire official said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
Since some of the soil has likely decomposed so a fresh layer may be needed in late February or before growth begins.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposed
Adjective
-
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Repair Or Replace Damaged Parts Replace any boards or beams that are structurally damaged, cracked or split, rotten, or severely splintered.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If these materials are already partly decayed, they’re called compost.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In 2024, Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that Clearlake and Boehly each explored buying the other one out as the relationship between them decayed.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The bins — often containing wheat, oats or barley — also bring additional risks because grain dust accumulation can contribute to fire hazards, spoiled grain can expose workers to potentially toxic substances and falling into the grain can quickly swallow and suffocate a person.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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Even the leader of the free world can exhibit the impetuous, manipulative, disruptive behaviors of a spoiled child — behaviors that go beyond classroom disruptions and that can potentially disrupt the entire world.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The car completely disintegrated, damaging several other vehicles.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
United could have disintegrated in the second period, fearing fate was against them.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The root system is completely rotted out of it, so winds, rain and anything can push that right over.—
Joe Holden,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
How to Plant Bare Root Roses Carefully inspect the roots and cut off any that are broken, cracked, rotted, or show signs of insect damage.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decomposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposed. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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