as in senility
technical + formal
the state of being old or the process of becoming old
premature senescence
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Recent Examples of senescence
An early step in leaf senescence is formation of what’s called the abscission layer — a corky layer of cells that forms where the leaf petiole eventually detaches from the branch.
—
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025
Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combined with senescence-inducing agents promotes T cell control of pancreatic cancer.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Though a longer period of senescence might sound exciting for autumn enthusiasts, the downside is that leaves have less time to photosynthesize.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Ghost, a giant Pacific octopus, has entered the final stage of her life – senescence, the Long Beach aquarium said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senescence
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025
Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combined with senescence-inducing agents promotes T cell control of pancreatic cancer.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Though a longer period of senescence might sound exciting for autumn enthusiasts, the downside is that leaves have less time to photosynthesize.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Ghost, a giant Pacific octopus, has entered the final stage of her life – senescence, the Long Beach aquarium said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senescence
Noun
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Then the interview happens, and Thomas is swinging between lucidity and senility, and a million things about their relationship come up, and the fiction records the interview the phone couldn’t capture.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Is Chuck Schumer headed down the same dark treadmill to senility pioneered by Dementia Joe Biden before him?—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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So Mom clears them out, taking them to a nearby nature preserve and natural-history museum, where the sharp-eyed Sasha notices the teen-age Jeremy stealing a souvenir keychain from a rotating rack.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Your Cardiovascular Health Can Improve Quickly Arteries naturally stiffen with age, which can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Far from being a sign of dotage, scientists concurred, music practice in old age confers all kinds of cognitive benefits.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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In his basketball dotage, Kyle Lowry is getting soft.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Laddering bonds involves buying multiple issues with different maturity dates and then reinvesting proceeds from maturing bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
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Capricorns innately carry a sense of emotional maturity and wisdom beyond their years, and Schafer brings that layered complexity to Jule's journey of identity, love and self-discovery.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Senescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senescence. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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