as in decay
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the unmistakable smell of decomposition led us to some fruit that had fallen behind the refrigerator
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Recent Examples of decomposition
Maritime rescue officials recovered the remains, which were in an advanced state of decomposition, and transported them to the port of Ibiza, the newspaper reported.
—
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Eventually, the natural fungal spores will colonize, and decomposition will begin.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
After extinguishing the fire, officials found Robert Hill, 44, deceased with severe burns, apparent head trauma, and signs of decomposition, according to Melesa Johnson with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Authorities located a body in the front trunk of the Tesla that was in a state of decomposition, LAPD sources said.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
This physical barrier is crucial for suppressing the decomposition of water, a primary cause of gas formation and efficiency loss in aqueous systems.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
The website states that the body was located on Wednesday, October 4, 1978, and the remains were unrecognizable due to decomposition.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
Authorities told the outlets that the body was in a state of decomposition.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
To speed up the decomposition process, the corks should be chopped up.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Eventually, the natural fungal spores will colonize, and decomposition will begin.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
After extinguishing the fire, officials found Robert Hill, 44, deceased with severe burns, apparent head trauma, and signs of decomposition, according to Melesa Johnson with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Authorities located a body in the front trunk of the Tesla that was in a state of decomposition, LAPD sources said.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
This physical barrier is crucial for suppressing the decomposition of water, a primary cause of gas formation and efficiency loss in aqueous systems.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
The website states that the body was located on Wednesday, October 4, 1978, and the remains were unrecognizable due to decomposition.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
Authorities told the outlets that the body was in a state of decomposition.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
To speed up the decomposition process, the corks should be chopped up.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposition
Noun
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The setting catches America at a point of transition between an era of middle-class prosperity and the economic decay that was on the horizon.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 Oct. 2025
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Some nuclei will be stable against decays, others will undergo one or more decays (radioactively) before producing a stable end-product.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cuevas de Arom uses the vessels through the entire winemaking process, from fermentation through aging, which Mora explains provides a slower, more delicate evolution.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
12 Oct. 2025
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Torres explained that wine and beer are safer bets due to their fermentation process and how they are manufactured.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Nikolai Gogol’s will specified that his corpse must show visible signs of putrefaction before burial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
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Likely only dead individuals, floating as gases formed by putrefaction accumulated in body cavities, entered the lagoon.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decomposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposition. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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