as in rotting
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
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as in decomposed
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Recent Examples of decomposing
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Thatch is made up of decomposing grass stems and roots on the soil surface.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
According to the study, Igatuia Cavernicola likely plays an important role in its cave ecosystem by eating decomposing organic matter, thereby cycling nutrients and contributing to the habitat’s overall health and function.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Directors of a Texas funeral home are accused of neglecting bodies found decomposing in their mortuary without working air conditioning, authorities say.
—Mike Stunson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025
Mushrooms also thrive in decomposing wood mulch.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Gates visited Koie’s mountainside studio in Gifu with Koie’s daughter, who shared that her father would be okay with the studio decomposing into the mountain.
—Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
The following day, Authorities found Grimes’ decomposing body wrapped in a blanked and tarp in the crawl space.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Border Patrol search dogs visited the scene and alerted teams to a body decomposing there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Another legend explains how in the distant past, the nefarious Lake Nyos was formed from the decomposing body of a Kom chief whose people had been tricked and murdered by the Bamessi tribe.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Thatch is made up of decomposing grass stems and roots on the soil surface.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
According to the study, Igatuia Cavernicola likely plays an important role in its cave ecosystem by eating decomposing organic matter, thereby cycling nutrients and contributing to the habitat’s overall health and function.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Directors of a Texas funeral home are accused of neglecting bodies found decomposing in their mortuary without working air conditioning, authorities say.
—Mike Stunson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025
Mushrooms also thrive in decomposing wood mulch.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Gates visited Koie’s mountainside studio in Gifu with Koie’s daughter, who shared that her father would be okay with the studio decomposing into the mountain.
—Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
The following day, Authorities found Grimes’ decomposing body wrapped in a blanked and tarp in the crawl space.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Border Patrol search dogs visited the scene and alerted teams to a body decomposing there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposing
Verb
-
Gutters provide easy access to your home, and clogs can create moisture that leads to rotting wood that termites like.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Amir’s work and relationship start to suffer as he becomes obsessed with his rotting leg.—
Erik Piepenburg,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Dental crowns are caps placed over damaged or decaying teeth and can also serve as supports for dental bridges.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
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The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.—
Syris Valentine,
Scientific American,
16 Oct. 2025
-
As gifts go, this one comes much belated—and with a high risk of disintegrating even as it is being unwrapped.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
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Before storing, get rid of any rotten or damaged tubers.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 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
-
Bad gas often has a spoiled or sour smell.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decomposing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposing. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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