as in to disintegrate
to go through decomposition
detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decompose
Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025
Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot the couple at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2025
The clippings quickly decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2025
The bureau did not say how long the remains had been decomposing when they were found in April 1973, six months after Dollison's disappearance.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Verb
After a series of hot days, the composter can finish decomposing materials in as little as two weeks.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025
Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot the couple at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2025
The clippings quickly decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2025
The bureau did not say how long the remains had been decomposing when they were found in April 1973, six months after Dollison's disappearance.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decompose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompose
Verb
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The top courses of the concrete block had disintegrated, and were nothing more than sand and small stones.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Players like Bobby Bonilla, George Foster, Vince Coleman, Jason Bay, Justin Verlander, Kaz Matsui, and others, came to Queens with high hopes that eventually disintegrated.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Since then, the levels have been adjusted to a maximum of 0.7 ppm or 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is considered optimal for preventing tooth decay.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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Weak or absent pulse Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Some people with severe arterial blockages develop chronic limb-threatening ischemia (insufficient blood flow), which can cause severe, constant pain, gangrene (tissue decay), and even limb loss (amputation).—
Alicen Nelson MD,
Verywell Health,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tulips bulbs left in the ground will rot unless they are planted in an area with good drainage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2025
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While rotting wood needs replacement, the car’s steel frame remains in good condition due to decades of indoor storage, Phalon said.—
David M. Zimmer,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The greenhouse gas methane can be converted into biodegradable plastics thanks to a new fermentation process.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Micro Bio Factory is producing indigo from sugar through microbial fermentation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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Here was an artist drawn irresistibly to executions and corpses, dismemberment and putrefaction.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
20 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompose. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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