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
His decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …Stephen Mihm

Examples of decades-long in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Throughout her decades-long career, Bonnie Tyler recorded pop, country and soft rock music and scored hits with each style, but she is remembered primarily for her decade-defining rock smashes. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The study points to the decades-long shift toward the use of synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon and elastane in the textile industry and how the use of those fibers has contributed to microfiber pollution in the environment. Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 8 July 2026 This is now a decades-long project by the Roberts Court to give wealthy individuals more power in the political process. Tonya Mosley, NPR, 8 July 2026 But Blue Origin branching out also ramps up the the two-decades-long Bezos-Musk rivalry further away from a mere billionaire duel and into a capital-heavy race for space dominance that institutional investors can help fund. Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for decades-long

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decades-long was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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