decay 1 of 2

noun

Definition of decaynext
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

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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

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decay

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈkā How to pronounce decay (audio)
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

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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

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3
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word decay different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decay are decompose, putrefy, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

Where would decompose be a reasonable alternative to decay?

While the synonyms decompose and decay are close in meaning, decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

In what contexts can putrefy take the place of decay?

In some situations, the words putrefy and decay are roughly equivalent. However, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

How are the words rot and decompose related as synonyms of decay?

Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

When is spoil a more appropriate choice than decay?

The meanings of spoil and decay largely overlap; however, spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

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
Noun
The fact that it was brought at all, however, speaks volumes about the decay in our cultural norms or expectations. — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026 This is intended to minimize degradation, reducing contrast decay and improving light projection reliability, ultimately extending the screen's lifespan. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
But The Walking Dead lives on, decaying, but apparently immortal. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The chance for blowing dust seems to increase as the hours go by in the evening during the advisory, as storms grow and decay after developing and outflow winds come out of south/southeast Arizona. — Tevian Whitehurst, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decay
  1. deterioration
  2. decomposition
  3. rot
  4. deteriorate
  5. fade
  6. weakening
  7. decompose
  8. crumble
Noun
  • The City is aware of deterioration to the pavers surrounding the memorial related to the seawall conditions in this section of the Riverwalk.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Noun
  • High humidity and sweltering heat accelerated decomposition, compounding the challenges as health experts warned that leaving the remains exposed could increase the risk of disease.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of decomposition
Verb
  • This panic is also nothing new; television was supposed to rot our brains, and radio before that, and somehow the republic survived.
    — Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Its paint was peeling, clapboards were rotting, and a tarp covered a leaking roof, according to the Times.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rot
Verb
  • Behrouz Mehri | Afp | Getty Images France's deteriorating public finances and political deadlock are becoming a growing concern for bond investors, with borrowing costs near financial-crisis-era highs as another difficult budget battle looms.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Israel has seen its own relations with Turkey deteriorate during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • As his memories begin to fade, he's left in a panic, not wanting to lose everything.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It was designed to give Hawthorne’s fading downtown a boost with three major department stores — JCPenney in addition to the Broadway and Montgomery Ward — as well as numerous shops and a movie theater.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fade
Noun
  • Rapid weakening, however, is expected after the center of the storm moves inland.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington wouldn't object if Tokyo intervened to support a weakening yen.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • Van der Heijden’s team reported that the fastest decomposing underwear was buried in residential gardens.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Determining the causes of death was complicated by how decomposed the bodies were, the medical examiner’s office said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of decompose
Verb
  • The tram no longer goes to this part of town, and the street itself is slowly gone, the asphalt crumbling into dust.
    — Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a dystopian world of desperation and war, small glimmers of hope keep society from crumbling completely.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumble

Browse Nearby Words

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decay
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Cite this Entry

“Decay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decay. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on decay

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about decay

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