as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
the decomposed remains of an old tree trunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
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
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
The body was so badly decomposed that the deceased’s gender could not be determined, said police.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposed
Adjective
-
Facing eviction, this next generation of ‘rotten’ kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Hamlet reminds us that things are rotten not just in the state of Denmark but just about everywhere.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It was revealed in court that the beech tree at the center of the incident had decayed prior to the branch falling, according to the Evening News and BBC.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
This correlation survived as the quarks formed hyperons and persisted even after the hyperons decayed in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hally’s vindictive turn is a betrayal, not just of their bond, but of the dream of a more equitable South Africa that could tolerate a Black man being a mentor to a spoiled, brokenhearted white kid.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Those items were immediately discarded, and staff received additional guidance on properly identifying and removing spoiled produce.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
15 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
-
The ceiling was noticeably bowed, and the floor was partly rotted.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Conley could’ve rotted away in Chicago.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decomposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposed. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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