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
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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
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
So the process is really to protect the body from decomposing due to the internal natural chemical process.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Because the body had decomposed, deputies collected DNA samples, and the North Carolina State Crime Lab eventually determined on March 28 that the remains belonged to Bonnell, per the sheriff's office.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot the couple at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Verb
The decomposing spirit soon haunts Anna-Beth and becomes her conscience as authorities begin to investigate the incident.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
So the process is really to protect the body from decomposing due to the internal natural chemical process.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Because the body had decomposed, deputies collected DNA samples, and the North Carolina State Crime Lab eventually determined on March 28 that the remains belonged to Bonnell, per the sheriff's office.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot the couple at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
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The latest observations of the comet suggest the object, made of ancient rock, frozen gases and dust, has disintegrated on its way to a close approach of the sun, which was anticipated to occur on May 1.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2025
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Mike White slickly disintegrates American family and friend relations — using flashy prurience but no analysis.—
Armond White,
National Review,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One hundred and thirteen years later, much of the great vessel — and what’s left of its splendors — remains in the same spot it was found four decades ago in 1985, though decay and human interference have changed its form over time.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Water fluoridation has been proven to be so effective at preventing tooth decay that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named it one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, a time during which Americans' life expectancies rose by 30 years.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He cannot be allowed to rot in an El Salvadorian jail.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Unless someone inside the federal government continues to ensure the liquid nitrogen doesn’t totally evaporate, the samples will eventually defrost and begin to rot, according to three staff researchers who work with such materials.—
Caroline Haskins,
Wired News,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Inferring from these results, the researchers believe that fermentation could unlock the food options available to astronauts on long journeys, since the process could be applied to preserve fresh foods for longer.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Apr. 2025
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That’s where fermentation offers an interesting solution.—
Katie Stone,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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When the surgeons finally opened her with a piece of broken glass, the putrefaction was as warm as life.—
Nell Zink,
Harper's Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
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Here was an artist drawn irresistibly to executions and corpses, dismemberment and putrefaction.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
20 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompose. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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