decadent 1 of 2

adjective

ˈde-kə-dənt How to pronounce decadent (audio)
Definition of decadentnext
1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit social critics claimed that their culture had become decadent and weak

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2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards opponents of gambling casinos claim that gambling is a decadent form of entertainment

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3
as in luxurious
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires the impressionable heiress couldn't resist the decadent temptations of the jet-set life

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decadent

2 of 2

noun

1
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard avant-garde artists who were scorned by the bourgeoisie as talentless decadents

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2
as in hedonist
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures a decadent who squandered her once considerable family fortune

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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 decadent
Adjective
How decadent to have a vermouth on the rocks and sweet treats — affogato, flan, a silky strawberry panna cotta — under the half moon slung low in the sky. — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Of course, the full tray of decadent foods between the driver’s hands and the steering wheel would make taking control difficult in a split-second emergency. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
But decadents only break taboos in a bloodless, symbolic way—they’re too lazy and refined for murder. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026 Hulu, May 15 The battle is back on in the second season of Rivals, the decadent, soapy ’80s ensemble drama led by David Tennant and Alex Hassell. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decadent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decadent
  1. degenerate
  2. corrupt
  3. luxurious
  4. pervert
  5. hedonist
  6. effete
  7. degraded
  8. sensual
Adjective
  • In Parkinson’s disease, neurons producing a chemical messenger called dopamine degenerate, and the dopamine itself cannot cross from the bloodstream into the brain.
    — Mallory Green, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • When the discs degenerate, vertebrae lose the spongy buffer between bones, resulting in pain.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of degenerate
Adjective
  • The most egregious perpetrators of fraud in the industry were corrupt doctors who were paid by patients to send insurance companies medical examination reports that omitted unfavorable findings.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That unaffordability, Talarico argued at the nighttime rally in Texas that was packed with younger voters, is because billionaires and corrupt politicians have rigged the system.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Adjective
  • After decades of neglect and subsequent disrepair, it was recently restored into a luxurious one-bedroom retreat that honors its historic roots while embracing contemporary amenities like a king bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a sleek living area.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result was a journey that allowed the guests to experience some of the planet’s last truly wild places in a way that felt adventurous, luxurious, and safe.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of luxurious
Noun
  • Hansen, who left NBC in 2013 but remains a leader in the pervert-ambushing space, has spoken about having considered a sting operation against Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of pervert
Noun
  • At 25, Myriam and Eva’s lives are not that different from any other young European hedonists.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2026
  • And what fame gave me, what addiction fueled was opportunity for endless consent, which led me to be a hedonist and a fool and an exploiter of women.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of hedonist
Adjective
  • Republicans have sought to cast him as an effete extremist.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
  • Scarf critics accuse the accessory—and by extension, its wearers—of being effete or affected.
    — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of effete
Adjective
  • Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of degraded
Adjective
  • The high-shine garment was seemingly painted onto Megan’s frame, both sleek and sensual, much like lingerie.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Such is the case with black faux-leather skirts—the bold and sensual style serves as the perfect anchor for incorporating more colors into your wardrobe.
    — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensual

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Cite this Entry

“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decadent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on decadent

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