as in decomposed
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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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Recent Examples of decomposing
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
That’s different from most other types of maggots, which feed on decomposing flesh.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Grass clippings reverse that process by acting as a fast-decomposing source of organic matter that provides nutrients to the soil.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
But then a group of Boy Scouts hiking in western Wisconsin in 2002 came across a bag with a decomposing skull.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The park’s namesake Pinnacles are technically the remains of a decomposing Miocene volcano.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
The child’s malnourished body was already decomposing.
—Laura Bauer
june 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
One of the latest challenges is hydrogen sulfide – a foul-smelling gas given off by decomposing bat droppings inside the chamber, that caused some crew members to faint, Kengkad told CNN.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Verb
Officials warned that decomposing fish could create potential health hazards for visitors entering the area or attempting to fish.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
That’s different from most other types of maggots, which feed on decomposing flesh.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Grass clippings reverse that process by acting as a fast-decomposing source of organic matter that provides nutrients to the soil.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
But then a group of Boy Scouts hiking in western Wisconsin in 2002 came across a bag with a decomposing skull.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The park’s namesake Pinnacles are technically the remains of a decomposing Miocene volcano.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
The child’s malnourished body was already decomposing.
—Laura Bauer
june 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
One of the latest challenges is hydrogen sulfide – a foul-smelling gas given off by decomposing bat droppings inside the chamber, that caused some crew members to faint, Kengkad told CNN.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposing
Adjective
-
At a time when the Earth was bare, when there were no vertebrates, no trees, no leaves, no flowering plants, and no plants with seeds, millipedes were feeding on decaying mosses, decomposed slime, and primordial gunk.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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Inspectors also found a decomposed rat in the basement.—
Mamie Bah,
CBS News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Liquids, food residue, and rotting produce can be a magnet for fruit flies.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
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The team aimed to fashion a rotting meat smell to recreate this slightly unhygienic oral arrangement.—
RJ Mackenzie,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.—
Scott Travis,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
-
The damage from our disintegrating democracy demands attention — and now.—
Elizabeth Keifer,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Discard any that look dead or decayed.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Inspect fences and perform any repairs or maintenance, such as reinforcing posts or replacing rotted sections.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Consequently, between Dick’s stubborn disposition and the fun the Indians had, Dick never worked much and was spoiled rotten.—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
-
Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs and ammonia gives off notes of urine, sweat or dead fish.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Moore cautioned people with lung issues or smoke sensitivity to avoid outdoor activities, but said crews have mitigated the hazardous-materials portion of the blaze and are now focused on the biohazard portion posed by spoiled food.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
-
However, officials remain concerned about biohazards potentially posed by spoiled food, including bread, poultry, pork and beef.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decomposing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposing. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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