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
Seasoned explorers will generally bring gas meters to check for dangerous levels of fumes, including potentially flammable hydrogen sulfide, which is produced by decomposition, Duncan said.
—
ABC News, 4 June 2026
The octopus had been preserved in formaldehyde, which halts decomposition.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Depending on soil temperature and moisture, the number of microorganisms in the soil, and the carbon content of the wastes, decomposition will occur in one month to one year to feed plant root systems.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Keep the mulch a few inches away from plant stems or bases to prevent them from getting damaged during decomposition of the grass clippings.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2026
Excessive fly activity indicates decomposition is already underway, at which point the fruit's condition is as much the concern as the flies themselves.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Brian Eckenrode, a retired FBI forensic scientist and expert in human decomposition, joined them in 2021.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Use in hydrogen transportation The five-metal nanocrystals have proven effective in accelerating ammonia decomposition, a process vital for the hydrogen energy economy.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
Compost is that rich mixture of various nitrogen-rich materials — grass clippings, vegetable scraps, eggshells, tree leaves and more — after decomposition by microorganisms breaks them down.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
ABC News, 4 June 2026
The octopus had been preserved in formaldehyde, which halts decomposition.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Depending on soil temperature and moisture, the number of microorganisms in the soil, and the carbon content of the wastes, decomposition will occur in one month to one year to feed plant root systems.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Keep the mulch a few inches away from plant stems or bases to prevent them from getting damaged during decomposition of the grass clippings.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2026
Excessive fly activity indicates decomposition is already underway, at which point the fruit's condition is as much the concern as the flies themselves.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Brian Eckenrode, a retired FBI forensic scientist and expert in human decomposition, joined them in 2021.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Use in hydrogen transportation The five-metal nanocrystals have proven effective in accelerating ammonia decomposition, a process vital for the hydrogen energy economy.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
Compost is that rich mixture of various nitrogen-rich materials — grass clippings, vegetable scraps, eggshells, tree leaves and more — after decomposition by microorganisms breaks them down.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposition
Noun
-
Your local climate dictates specific maintenance needs, such as checking for rust in coastal areas or rubber decay in hot regions.—
Danny Smith,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Enamel erosion makes teeth more susceptible to sensitivity, staining, and decay.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The tequila is distilled on both pot and column stills to create two different styles of spirit after the agave is cooked in autoclaves, and perhaps most interestingly the distillery plays classical music during fermentation.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
6 June 2026
-
Organic acids, which are produced during fermentation, may influence microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract, says Soares.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Nikolai Gogol’s will specified that his corpse must show visible signs of putrefaction before burial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
-
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 8 Jun. 2026.
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