decomposition

as in decay
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the unmistakable smell of decomposition led us to some fruit that had fallen behind the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposition
Noun
  • Fluoride can stop early tooth decay by putting minerals back into enamel.
    Katherine Dillinger, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The concern is not that AI is inherently detrimental, but rather the potential for its uncritical and pervasive use to lead to a form of agency decay – a diminished capacity for independent thought, problem-solving, and creative generation when the first and easiest solution is to defer to an AI.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Champagne is made using the traditional method (or méthode traditionnelle), where the wine goes through a second fermentation in the bottle.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Brewers can control the fermentation of beers to prevent the formation of alcohol, and can augment other ingredients like hops and malt to add flavors.
    Eric Asimov, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • When the surgeons finally opened her with a piece of broken glass, the putrefaction was as warm as life.
    Nell Zink, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Here was an artist drawn irresistibly to executions and corpses, dismemberment and putrefaction.
    airmail.news, airmail.news, 20 Apr. 2024
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decomposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposition. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decomposition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

OSZAR »