as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the decaying of the bone mass that is so regrettably common in elderly women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ramshackle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rotting
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
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 fading
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
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Recent Examples of decaying
Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025
What fill out the episodes instead are extended zombie-battle scenes and long, silent sequences where people explore gorgeously decaying spaces.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The videos, taken on March 16 and 17, show dolphins swimming in cloudy and bright green water within a decaying enclosure.
—Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
These RHUs use decaying isotopes like americium-241 to generate heat and electricity for spacecraft.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2025
That the movie’s aesthetic has etched itself so deeply into our collective consciousness owes, in large part, to Syd Mead, the legendary concept artist and industrial designer who dreamed up the film’s decaying Los Angeles — a neo-noir visual cityscape that felt both distant and just within reach.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Things are growing and things are decaying.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Previous developers have tried unsuccessfully to revitalize the decaying property.
—Tyler Williams, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The buildings are beautiful and tranquil but fundamentally incongruous (modern architecture mixed with bits of decaying monasteries, gathered from meadows in Catalonia and France).
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
Is dark matter decaying, or is something decaying into dark matter?
—Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025
What fill out the episodes instead are extended zombie-battle scenes and long, silent sequences where people explore gorgeously decaying spaces.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The videos, taken on March 16 and 17, show dolphins swimming in cloudy and bright green water within a decaying enclosure.
—Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
These RHUs use decaying isotopes like americium-241 to generate heat and electricity for spacecraft.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2025
That the movie’s aesthetic has etched itself so deeply into our collective consciousness owes, in large part, to Syd Mead, the legendary concept artist and industrial designer who dreamed up the film’s decaying Los Angeles — a neo-noir visual cityscape that felt both distant and just within reach.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Things are growing and things are decaying.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Previous developers have tried unsuccessfully to revitalize the decaying property.
—Tyler Williams, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The buildings are beautiful and tranquil but fundamentally incongruous (modern architecture mixed with bits of decaying monasteries, gathered from meadows in Catalonia and France).
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decaying
Noun
-
Sulzberger writes passionately about the existential threats facing a free press, from economic collapse to political intimidation, and how journalism must stand as a bulwark in a time of profound civic deterioration.—
Jessica Sibley,
Time,
19 May 2025
-
Dan Wang Eurasia The 90-day tariff reduction and break does not guarantee a deal, especially given the deterioration of mutual trust between the U.S. and China, said Natixis’ senior economist Gary Ng.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Souter was perfectly happy with his secluded life in Weare, New Hampshire, living with his elderly mother in a ramshackle cabin in the woods.—
Barbara A. Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
-
Indeed, the Democratic Party has become a ramshackle, disheveled party and has given a new meaning to spontaneous combustion.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Verb
-
Then came the yacht’s renaissance by her father, who saw beauty and sailing prowess inside a rotting hull.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Rotting Flesh and the Skeleton Underneath Eggers wanted the audience almost to smell the rotting flesh when the sarcophagus is flipped open.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
His health has been deteriorating since he was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a toddler.—
Lynsey Addario,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Retail experts saw a lack of investment in Hudson’s Bay stores, diminishing service levels and deteriorating physical conditions, like malfunctioning escalators and water damage in certain locations.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Teeth grinding can also cause more cavities to occur as grinding teeth together strips them of some of the protective enamel that could otherwise prevent tooth decay.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
All water has some fluoride, but many cities and counties in the state add more to help prevent tooth decay.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Griff's was a cozy space inside with a small, rickety wooden patio in the front and a larger one in the back.—
Brianna Griff,
Chron,
13 Jan. 2023
-
Instead of rickety outdoor patios with plastic partitions, diners mostly ate in dining rooms.—
Nick Kindelsperger,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Dec. 2022
Verb
-
This stylish planter keeps plants well-watered and is virtually indestructible, designed to resist cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperatures.—
Rachel Ahrnsen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Jan. 2025
-
In the meantime, families can only guess how long their crumbling foundations will support their walls.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Moffett also said artificial intelligence isn’t driving an upgrade cycle as hoped, noting that there is weakening demand in China along with antitrust concerns.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2025
-
With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report.—
Jason Schenker,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decaying. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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