SENESCENCE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

senescence

noun

Definition of senescence

as in senility

technical + formal the state of being old or the process of becoming old premature senescence

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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 senescence The Aquarium announced Ghost’s senescence online in September. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Ghost had laid eggs and entered the final stage of her life cycle, called senescence, back in September and died a natural death on Tuesday, aquarium staff said. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 Sinclair’s work on senescence intersects with new therapeutic directions in oncology, from CAR-T failures linked to T-cell exhaustion to the growing interest in senolytic adjuvants. — Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026 Or, the first generation simply declined from senescence and the debilitating effects of power long exercised without check. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for senescence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for senescence

Noun

Her cause of death was chronic nephritis with senility, according to The Herald News.

— Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Then the interview happens, and Thomas is swinging between lucidity and senility, and a million things about their relationship come up, and the fiction records the interview the phone couldn’t capture.

— Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

Definition of senility

Noun

And until advanced age intervened, tap-dancing was his preferred form of exercise.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
While the youngest retirement age, 62, could receive up to $2,969 per month, a recipient who waited until 70 years old could receive up to $5,181 per month, according to the Social Security Administration.

— Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of age

Noun

Most people reckoned Graham would continue serving into his dotage before his unexpected death in July of an aortic dissection.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Far from being a sign of dotage, scientists concurred, music practice in old age confers all kinds of cognitive benefits.

— Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026

Definition of dotage

Noun

Huntsinger said commercial almond farming had expanded rapidly in Placer County over the past decade, with many young orchards reaching maturity.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But waiting for quantum maturity before designing for its convergence risks enterprises architecting for yesterday’s business boundaries.

— Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of maturity

Browse Nearby Words

senectitude

senescence

senescent

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

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Synonyms of senescence

noun

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