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
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
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But toss everything into a cauldron and the end result is a rotten stew of the Beavers’ own making.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Truly rotten pumpkins also don't make good toys or feed for wildlife—whether the wildlife around your home or as feed or entertainment for animals at the zoo or local farm—though pumpkins that are just softening are ideal for this role.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An early form of one type of energy that decayed into another?—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
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It was likely dropped by a bird of prey or fell from a tree, then taken away by a predator, removed by someone or decayed on the spot — although there are no remains left behind.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The spoiled food was brought onboard by a customer and was not related to in-flight food or drinks, according to the company.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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Bad gas often has a spoiled or sour smell.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Before flight 10, Starship's most recent demonstration came on May 27, when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
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When breaking down what the heck happened over the last four months, the first item on the list is the way New York’s starting rotation disintegrated.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the Riverfront Times, portions of his fingers had rotted away before anyone found him.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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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 28 Oct. 2025.
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