as in decomposed
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of decomposing
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026
The decomposing body of the teenage girl was found in the trunk of Burke’s abandoned Tesla last September, a day after her 15th birthday.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
The Houston singer-songwriter was first tied to Rivas’ death in September 2025, when police discovered a trash bag containing a dismembered, decomposing body in a Tesla registered under Burke’s name.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
In September, Celeste‘s decomposing body was found.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The rule requires landfills to control methane emissions from decomposing waste.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of ripening fruit and decomposing produce.
—Christine Fiorentino, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Clements explained that the animal had been decomposing for weeks before it was buried, giving its fossil an octopus-like appearance that led many scientists to conclude that octopuses had lived far earlier than previously thought.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
Over time, the soil improved by decomposing lawn clippings is more absorbent and well-drained.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
D4vd’s parents are coming to his defense after the platinum-selling singer was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl found dismembered and decomposing in the trunk of his Tesla seven months ago.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026
The decomposing body of the teenage girl was found in the trunk of Burke’s abandoned Tesla last September, a day after her 15th birthday.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
The Houston singer-songwriter was first tied to Rivas’ death in September 2025, when police discovered a trash bag containing a dismembered, decomposing body in a Tesla registered under Burke’s name.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
In September, Celeste‘s decomposing body was found.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The rule requires landfills to control methane emissions from decomposing waste.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of ripening fruit and decomposing produce.
—Christine Fiorentino, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Clements explained that the animal had been decomposing for weeks before it was buried, giving its fossil an octopus-like appearance that led many scientists to conclude that octopuses had lived far earlier than previously thought.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
Over time, the soil improved by decomposing lawn clippings is more absorbent and well-drained.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposing
Adjective
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From having the viscous juices of decomposed leaves that kept her plump leak through a tear in her side, as happened to a few of her siblings.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Livonia Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the badly decomposed body of a man found March 28, partially submerged in the creek near Hines Drive and Levan Road.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The car was registered in Hempstead, Texas to Burke and impounded after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, where neighbors complained of a rotting smell.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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In fact, many teens seem to have deep concerns over AI chatbots rotting their frontal lobes.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the south side of the development, south of Diversey Parkway along Hoyne Avenue and Leavitt Street, remains fenced off and decaying.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
Verb
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The meteor was moving southwest at 30,000 miles per hour and traveled 117 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 27 miles above the town of Galloway north of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to NASA.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
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Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Facing eviction, this next generation of ‘rotten’ kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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Hamlet reminds us that things are rotten not just in the state of Denmark but just about everywhere.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hally’s vindictive turn is a betrayal, not just of their bond, but of the dream of a more equitable South Africa that could tolerate a Black man being a mentor to a spoiled, brokenhearted white kid.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
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Those items were immediately discarded, and staff received additional guidance on properly identifying and removing spoiled produce.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decomposing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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