1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit a candidate who vehemently rejects the idea that liberalism is a decayed political philosophy
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2
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown we routinely throw all decayed or unwanted organic matter into our compost heap
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1
as in decomposed
to go through decomposition the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber
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2
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years
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3
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying
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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 decayed
Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026 The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up. —Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 Some are sandy; others are rich in organic matter formed from centuries of decayed plants. —Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026 Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Aug. 2025 The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2025
Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026 This correlation survived as the quarks formed hyperons and persisted even after the hyperons decayed in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 If these materials are already partly decayed, they’re called compost. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 In 2024, Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that Clearlake and Boehly each explored buying the other one out as the relationship between them decayed. —Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Class sizes in many districts have grown, support services have dwindled and buildings have decayed. —Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026 Violations can be written for peeling paint, leaking roof, electrical and plumbing problems, holes in the wall, floor and ceiling, and decayed wood. —Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026 Some had decayed for years, others several months, according to the affidavit. —Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026 While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Discard any that look dead or decayed. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026 The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up. —Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 Some are sandy; others are rich in organic matter formed from centuries of decayed plants. —Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026 Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Aug. 2025 The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
It was revealed in court that the beech tree at the center of the incident had decayed prior to the branch falling, according to the Evening News and BBC. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026 This correlation survived as the quarks formed hyperons and persisted even after the hyperons decayed in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 If these materials are already partly decayed, they’re called compost. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 In 2024, Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that Clearlake and Boehly each explored buying the other one out as the relationship between them decayed. —Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Class sizes in many districts have grown, support services have dwindled and buildings have decayed. —Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026 Violations can be written for peeling paint, leaking roof, electrical and plumbing problems, holes in the wall, floor and ceiling, and decayed wood. —Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026 Some had decayed for years, others several months, according to the affidavit. —Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026 While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decayed
Adjective
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Be classy, yet still maintain some of your degenerate tendencies.— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
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German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.— Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the fall, the adults would find rotten crescents in the harvest.— Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
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As of Thursday night, the film had a rotten 33 percent critics’ score on Rotten tomatoes.— Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her body was so badly decomposed; no DNA swab could be taken.— Mary Murphy, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
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The body was decomposed and dismembered.— City News Service, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst.— Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
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An old male Japanese macaque maintained alpha status as his ability to walk deteriorated, but only through an alliance with the alpha female.— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shine on the Dodgers’ most historic rivalry has faded, right along with the Giants.— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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Months later, Vandersloot said any hurt feelings caused by Reese’s comments have faded into the background.— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Viel made a weak pass that led to the goal but had a strong hit on McDavid in the opening 20 minutes as well.— Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
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With the uncertainty caused by the war with Iran, the price of oil going through the roof, and tariffs complicating company supply chains, analysts expected the labor market to get weaker.— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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More and more Americans across the spectrum see Netanyahu’s Israel as a spoiled child, and they’re just fed up with it.— Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
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Other warning signs include a damaged or opened lid and an unusual or spoiled smell.— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Uncollected garbage rotted in heaps, and people cued outside of bakeries for their daily government ration of bread.— Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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The ceiling was noticeably bowed, and the floor was partly rotted.— Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/decayed. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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