as in decomposed
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
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 decomposing
Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
These electrical signals become more active when the hyphae of wood-decomposing fungi touch wood.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Samantha Johnson received a 15-year, 8-month prison sentence from a Merced County Superior Court judge, ending a four-year legal saga that began in March 2022 with the discovery of Sophia’s decomposing body in this Central Valley city.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Detectives said the victim’s body had already begun decomposing.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Weed seeds land in decomposing mulch and find a foothold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Scientists have also observed that these electrical signals become more active when the hyphae of wood-decomposing fungi come into contact with wood, suggesting fungi might use this signaling to relay information about nutrients or damage across their networks.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
These electrical signals become more active when the hyphae of wood-decomposing fungi touch wood.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Samantha Johnson received a 15-year, 8-month prison sentence from a Merced County Superior Court judge, ending a four-year legal saga that began in March 2022 with the discovery of Sophia’s decomposing body in this Central Valley city.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Detectives said the victim’s body had already begun decomposing.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Weed seeds land in decomposing mulch and find a foothold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposing
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
Now, plans are finally underway to remove the rotting vestiges of the structure.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Just keep it a couple of inches away from plant crowns and stems to avoid rotting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mill was abandoned in the 1970s, the rail line in the ’80s, and both sat decaying until just before the pandemic.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to the decaying physical structure, Richards highlighted a decrease in correction officer staffing levels such that people inside do not feel safe.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The meteor traveled about 58 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 29 miles above tiny Calflax in unincorporated Fresno County, Cooke said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And that kind of movie almost always tastes rotten — no matter how long it’s been sitting in theaters.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
He was forced to eat cat litter, cat feces, urine, vomit and rotten spinach, according to court documents.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Skenes was chased in the first inning earlier in the day by the Mets — as 76ers star Joel Embiid mocked the Pirates ' ace on social media — while Sánchez never pitched into a serious jam against Texas and spoiled manager Skip Schumaker's Texas debut.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decomposing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
