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
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 decomposed
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
McCormack’s decomposed body was found in a pink suitcase near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri, and Noel, Missouri, on July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2025
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
The state medical examiner discussed possible strangulation, citing the belt, but acknowledged under cross-examination that telltale signs were not visible because the remains were burned and decomposed, according to court records.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Two people discovered badly decomposed human remains while doing a walkthrough of a home for sale in Ohio, police told news outlets.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Their remains were either so badly decomposed to be identified, or perhaps their dog tags were missing.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The body found inside the Tesla had been mutilated and heavily decomposed, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Woolf's remains were found unclothed and partially decomposed near the San Joaquin trailhead in Tucson in December 2024.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The body had decomposed, but the uniform the person was wearing and other equipment was well-preserved, L’Adige reported.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The decomposed body found in singer D4vd's Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot was identified as that of a 15-year-old girl.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
McCormack’s decomposed body was found in a pink suitcase near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri, and Noel, Missouri, on July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
The state medical examiner discussed possible strangulation, citing the belt, but acknowledged under cross-examination that telltale signs were not visible because the remains were burned and decomposed, according to court records.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Two people discovered badly decomposed human remains while doing a walkthrough of a home for sale in Ohio, police told news outlets.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Their remains were either so badly decomposed to be identified, or perhaps their dog tags were missing.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The body found inside the Tesla had been mutilated and heavily decomposed, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Woolf's remains were found unclothed and partially decomposed near the San Joaquin trailhead in Tucson in December 2024.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The body had decomposed, but the uniform the person was wearing and other equipment was well-preserved, L’Adige reported.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposed
Adjective
-
In a city in which the house always wins — and so many others lose and lose — the Raiders’ rotten run of futility is getting old.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Learn how to banish that rotten egg smell from your washer while keeping it fresh, clean, and odor-free.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The color comes from the water soaking in peat, partially decayed plant matter that can be hundreds of years old.—
Sheeka Sanahori,
Outside,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With an increasing amount of people choosing to get pets instead of having children, furbabies across the country are becoming more and more spoiled.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Following her time playing the eldest Banks (and the most spoiled) child, Parsons acted in shows like Lush Life and The Job, and in films like The Ladies Man and 13 Moons.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over the years, the roof disintegrated and many of the windows are broken.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Trade negotiations with Canada, which involved metal tariffs, recently disintegrated.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to the Riverfront Times, portions of his fingers had rotted away before anyone found him.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
When a small job of filling in a hole that a pet has dug or where a root has rotted, homeowners can easily handle this type of job themselves.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decomposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposed. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share