1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rot
to go through decomposition
the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of decay
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The simplest force that unifies the strong force with the electroweak force is the Georgi-Glashow model, which predicts proton decay on a timescale of around 1030 years, but the proton’s lifetime is already established to be at least 1034 years.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Eventually, these movements overwhelmed what was left of a decaying state.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decay
Noun
Alongside neutrinos, radioactive decay produces isotopes that could enhance cancer diagnostics and imaging techniques.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The simplest force that unifies the strong force with the electroweak force is the Georgi-Glashow model, which predicts proton decay on a timescale of around 1030 years, but the proton’s lifetime is already established to be at least 1034 years.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Radioactive atoms in sync Normally, radioactive atoms decay slowly.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Eventually, these movements overwhelmed what was left of a decaying state.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
Noun
-
Biglari was particularly critical of the company’s store-level deterioration.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
While StubHub stock could rise at the IPO – especially if the offering is oversubscribed – consumer backlash, regulatory pressure, competitive threats, and profitability deterioration make $STUB particularly risky.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Authorities told the outlets that the body was in a state of decomposition.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
People are assigning themselves homework to combat brain rot and improve their attention spans.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Warm conditions produce more food for these microbes, which thrive in rotting vegetation, as is found in tropical wetlands and thawing Arctic permafrost.—
Katherine Bourzac,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Also on display was a 1774 letter from King George III to Prime Minister Lord North, acknowledging the escalating rebellion in the American colonies and referencing the Boston Tea Party as a pivotal moment in deteriorating relations.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In the weeks after the phone call, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After a pause, the composition takes on a searching quality, as the melody travels from one instrument to the next, including a compelling viola solo performed by principal viola Maiya Papach, eventually fading out to nothing, leaving the audience suspended in uneasy quiet.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The long-standing expectation was that these resonance signals would fade and become negligible as the momentum transfer increased.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Inflammation can cause vascular disease — the narrowing, weakening or even blockage of blood vessels — that can damage organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and of course the brain.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Hurricane center forecasters said additional weakening is expected during the next few days, with Kiko moving toward the west-northwest around 14 mph.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
O’Steen bludgeoned Marissa Grimes, dug a shallow grave for her under his house in west Fort Worth and for 10 days lived above where police later sawed open the floor to expose Grimes’ decomposing 135-pound body, prosecutors have argued that the evidence shows.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Two people discovered badly decomposed human remains while doing a walkthrough of a home for sale in Ohio, police told news outlets.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, the timing of Wong and Ballmer's investments—and the urgency that Aspiration reportedly felt to continue paying Leonard even as the rest of the business crumbled—raises eyebrows.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
These figures are in pass protection, meaning that the line has crumbled under pass rushers pretty often with Burrow taking snaps.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share