as in to disintegrate
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decompose
Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
The pumpkin will decompose to provide nutrients for next year's vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Verb
Return nutrients back to the soil Fallen leaves and other plant debris act as a natural mulch, which slowly decomposes over the winter.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
The pumpkin will decompose to provide nutrients for next year's vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
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Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.—
Syris Valentine,
Scientific American,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite years of legal battles over the relocations, more than 150,000 bodies were exhumed from the 1920s to the early 1940s for the trip to Colma, each in various stages of decay.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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Why didn’t evolution produce a more dependable version of the human body, less prone to malfunction and decay?—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Leave 3 to 5 inches of space between the mulch and the trunk of young fruit trees to reduce the risk of rot and pest issues.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
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Churches, libraries, and houses stand splintered and rotting next to posh tourist resorts, the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Baroo is a modern Korean restaurant in the Arts District, with a focus on fermentation.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
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Peptides formed during fermentation may help relax blood vessels by interfering with ACE activity.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
24 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
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompose. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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