decomposition

noun

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

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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 decomposition Authorities announced on Thursday that two unidentified bodies, both in a state of decomposition, have been found buried in the yard. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 The bodies were found buried in the backyard and were in a state of decomposition, police said. — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026 The other five were found dead in a state of decomposition, the KWS said, per The Guardian. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 If the stump is in a low-traffic area and won’t interfere with lawn mowing, the easiest removal method is natural decomposition. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 Their decomposition attributed much of the divergence to how raters measure the same underlying issue rather than merely to differences in scope or weighting. — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 But decomposition affects how tissues look and can complicate toxicology, especially alcohol findings, because alcohol can appear as a byproduct of decomposition, according to Banerjee. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 Maintain Compost Bins Compost piles need to be kept damp in order to accelerate organic decomposition. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026 In punishing heat, more people wore masks as the stench of decomposition spread. — Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decomposition
  1. decay
  2. fermentation
  3. putrefaction
Noun
  • Voyager 2 and its twin launched in 1977, called Voyager 1, rely on a form of nuclear battery known as a radioisotope thermoelectric generator that uses the heat produced by the decay of plutonium.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Tritium undergoes radioactive decay, emitting particles that can degrade porous materials over time.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Fly By Jing street noodles go through a two-day fermentation process and are sun-dried and hand-cut, resulting in a bouncy, chewy texture that goes above and beyond the cup of noodles of your dorm days.
    — Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
  • While Vapoura’s molasses derives from sugar cane produced in Mauritius, the preparation, fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending and bottling all happen in England.
    — Lela London, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fermentation
Noun
  • Now guys, be sure to say thank you to the man responsible for the pool’s putrefaction and the rest of the surrounding devastation.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
  • Nikolai Gogol’s will specified that his corpse must show visible signs of putrefaction before burial.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of putrefaction

Browse Nearby Words

decomposing
decomposition
decompress
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Cite this Entry

“Decomposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decomposition. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of decomposition for Spanish Speakers

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