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
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Recent Examples of decomposed
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2025
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
The victim, whose remains were badly decomposed, had no ID on her and is believed to be Black or Hispanic and between 20 to 30 years old and 4-feet-5 to 5-feet-2.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Most of the bodies were badly decomposed, and their identities were obscured by time and the elements, The Associated Press reported.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Halleck adds coffee grounds need to be decomposed by microbes first to release nitrogen and other nutrients.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025
Their corpses, reportedly decomposed and mauled by pigs, were not found for another three days, according to a police statement issued at the time.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
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
The victim, whose remains were badly decomposed, had no ID on her and is believed to be Black or Hispanic and between 20 to 30 years old and 4-feet-5 to 5-feet-2.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Most of the bodies were badly decomposed, and their identities were obscured by time and the elements, The Associated Press reported.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Halleck adds coffee grounds need to be decomposed by microbes first to release nitrogen and other nutrients.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025
Their corpses, reportedly decomposed and mauled by pigs, were not found for another three days, according to a police statement issued at the time.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposed
Adjective
-
Horrible Bosses When three friends — played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis — regroup after a terrible day at their respective jobs, the fed-up employees drunkenly conspire to murder their seriously rotten employers and attempt to follow through.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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He was once asked to accept a dead whale; another time, an entire shipping container of rotten garlic.—
Kyra Morris,
The Atlantic,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But Iran’s model decayed even in places where Israel and the United States had not attacked for some time.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Within the next 18 days, the new short July 25 90/115 strangle would be worth only 46 cents, also having decayed by more than 80% of the value when the trade was initiated, at which point a trader could have rolled the short strangle yet again.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Here’s how to get money for spoiled groceries when the food in your refrigerator is compromised during a power outage.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Sep. 2025
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The President is a child who doesn't like his ego to be hurt, a spoiled child.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 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,
28 Aug. 2025
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The situation quickly disintegrated as Joseph Gerber, 45, who had an outstanding felony warrant, fired first and wounded Mancera.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The wooden floor has rotted through, and only a few flimsy stairs remain attached to telephone poles, which once propped up the tower.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Our brains are irrevocably rotted.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decomposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposed. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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