Many local traditions have fallen into decay in recent years.
Source: tatoeba (18642)
Decay
/diˈkeɪ/
Synonyms for "decay" (251 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (51)
Noun(12 words)
declinedecompositionradioactive decayblightblightingcankeringcreakingdecline of civilizationdecomposedecomposer leveldecomposer level measurementdecomposing
Adjective(1 words)
Verb(5 words)
Strong matches (75)
Noun(16 words)
decomposition tendencydecrepitudedegeneracydegenerate formdegradedeterioratedeteriorationdeteriorationsdiminishdisintegratedisintegrationdisusedotageecosystem functionsfalloffsfoetor
Adjective(2 words)
degraded statusdilapidated
Related words (125)
go to piecesgo to potgo to seedhydrolysishydrolystincoherenceinfirmitymessmildewmoldmoldermortificationmortifymouldmouldermouldymuckmucusnecrosenecrosis
Show 63 more words
obscenityordureoxidationoxidizationperishphotolysispollutepusputrefactionputrefyputresceputrescenceputrid matterputridityputridnessrancidityrancidnessrankleranknessravages of timeresolutionrotrottennessrottingruinrustsapscurfscuzseedslimesloughsmutsnotsordessoursphacelatesphacelationsphacelussplitsplittingspoilspoilagestagnatesuppuratetaintthermolysistooth decayturntwilightunderminevicewanewaste awaywastingweakenweakeningwearwear and tearwear awaywitherworkwreck
Adjective(6 words)
historical disintegrationlong term degradationlower energy stateputrefiedrapid decompositiontumbledown
Noun(28 words)
Determiner(1 words)
more societal-collapse
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: decline, decomposition, radioactive decay, ablate, ablation.
- Sentence evidence is available for decay, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "decay".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "decay"
Keep "decay" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "decay" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "decay", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "decay" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesactionactivitychangechange integritydeclinedecompositiondecreasedecrementdeteriorationdiminutionnatural actionnatural processnuclear processnuclear reactionorganic phenomenonprocess
Showing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
16 entriesalpha decaybeta decaycorrosioncultural decaydegenerationeconomic decayerosiongamma decaymoldermoral decayputrefactionputrefyrotrottingspontaneous fissionwear
Collocations
7 entriesbiological decaychemical decaydecay constantdecay curvedecay rateradioactive decaystructural decay
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
48 translations across 24 languages.
Arabic
2 entries- اضمحل verb (to deteriorate)
- تضعضع verb (to deteriorate)
Armenian
1 entries- փչանալ verb (to deteriorate)
Bulgarian
2 entries- развалям се verb (to deteriorate)
- разлагам се verb (to deteriorate)
Catalan
2 entries- deteriorar-se verb (to deteriorate)
- fer-se malbé verb (to deteriorate)
Czech
1 entries- rozkládat se verb (to deteriorate)
Danish
4 entries- brydes ned verb (to deteriorate)
- forfalde verb (to deteriorate)
- henfalde verb (to deteriorate)
- nedbrydes verb (to deteriorate)
Dutch
3 entries- in verval raken verb (to deteriorate)
- verloederen verb (to deteriorate)
- vervallen verb (to deteriorate)
Esperanto
1 entries- kadukiĝi verb (to deteriorate)
Finnish
4 entries- heikentyä verb (to deteriorate)
- heiketä verb (to deteriorate)
- rapautua verb (to deteriorate)
- rappeutua verb (to deteriorate)
French
1 entries- pourrir verb (to deteriorate)
Georgian
1 entries- ფუჭდება verb (to deteriorate)
German
2 entries- verderben verb (to deteriorate)
- verfallen verb (to deteriorate)
Hungarian
2 entries- elpusztul verb (to deteriorate)
- tönkremegy verb (to deteriorate)
Irish
2 entries- meath verb (to deteriorate)
- meathlaigh verb (to deteriorate)
Korean
1 entries- 부패하다 verb (to deteriorate)
Malayalam
1 entries- ജീർണ്ണിക്കുക verb (to deteriorate)
Māori
2 entries- koropungapunga verb (to deteriorate)
- taimate verb (to deteriorate)
Persian
2 entries- تباهیدن verb (to deteriorate)
- واپاشیدن verb (to deteriorate)
Portuguese
2 entries- decompor-se verb (to deteriorate)
- deteriorar verb (to deteriorate)
Romanian
1 entries- descompune verb (to deteriorate)
Russian
2 entries- по́ртиться verb (to deteriorate)
- ухудша́ться verb (to deteriorate)
Spanish
4 entries- decaer verb (to deteriorate)
- descaecer (disused) verb (to deteriorate)
- deteriorarse verb (to deteriorate)
- periclitar verb (to deteriorate)
Swedish
4 entries- förfalla verb (to deteriorate)
- försämras verb (to deteriorate)
- mattas verb (to deteriorate)
- tackla av verb (to deteriorate)
Turkish
1 entries- fenalaşmak verb (to deteriorate)
Sample sentences
25 total sentences available.
There is nothing that does not decay.
Source: tatoeba (19579)
Too many sweets cause your teeth to decay.
Source: tatoeba (21008)
Mere decay produces richer life.
Source: tatoeba (22299)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "decay"?
Closest matches include decline, decomposition, radioactive decay, ablate, ablation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "decay"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.