Synonyms for decompose
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To separate or break down (something) into its components.
Various fungi can decompose wood.
- v. 2
To rot, decay or putrefy.
Plastics can take centuries to decompose.
Related words
- Word family
- decomposable decomposition
Forms
- Past participle
- decomposed
e.g. decomposed → disintegrated, dissolved, perished, fragmented…
Example sentences
- fragment There's a tiny fragment that's broken off.
- dissolve Fadil brought enough acid to dissolve Layla's body.
- disintegrate Comets start to disintegrate as they approach the sun.
- rot Put the meat in the refrigerator, or it will rot.
- decay A mother must protect her child's teeth from decay.
- fester Don't allow anger to grow and fester in your heart.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| decompose | steady | |
| fragment | steady | |
| dissolve | steady | |
| disintegrate | steady | |
| rot | falling | |
| decay | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- rot1
- 5 letters
- decay2
- 6 letters
- perish2, fester2, molder2
- 7 letters
- corrupt2, analyze3, analyse, crumble2, moulder2, putrefy
- 8 letters
- dissolve2, fragment2
- 10 letters
- decompound
- 12 letters
- disintegrate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (decay2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- décomposer
- Italiano
- decomporre
- Español
- descomponer
- Deutsch
- zersetzen
- Català
- descompondre