decades-long
adjective
de·cades-long
ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ 
variants
or less commonly decadeslong
: lasting two or more decades : occurring over a period of two or more decades
a decades-long career
… no discussion of wolf research would be complete without mention of this fascinating, decades-long study.—
Robert R. Ream
Robert R. ReamHis decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …—Stephen Mihm
Stephen MihmExamples of decades-long in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Akhbar Enfejari described themselves as Iranians producing and uploading from within Iran in an effort to disrupt decades-long dominance of Western control of the airwaves.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The Aquarium of the Pacific has a decades-long history of caring for Southern California's rehabilitating sea turtle population.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Overall, the league seeks to build upon established and growing interest in elite basketball, particularly in greater China, where the NBA has already established a decades-long presence.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decades-long
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ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The Aquarium of the Pacific has a decades-long history of caring for Southern California's rehabilitating sea turtle population.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Overall, the league seeks to build upon established and growing interest in elite basketball, particularly in greater China, where the NBA has already established a decades-long presence.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decades-long
Cite this Entry
“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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