decompose
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for decompose, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To break something down into its separate parts or components.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use decompose
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
decompose into parts
begin to decompose
decomposing matter
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French décomposer, built from de- plus compose.
Full origin of decompose →Frequently asked questions
What does “decompose” mean?
The word “decompose” means to break something down into its separate parts or components. In plain terms, to fall apart into pieces or components — either literally (rotting) or in an analytical sense (breaking a problem into parts).
How do you pronounce “decompose”?
“Decompose” is pronounced dee-kuhm-POHZ (/ˌdikəmˈpoʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “decompose” in a sentence?
Here is “decompose” used in a sentence: “Chemists decomposed the compound to identify its individual elements.”
What part of speech is “decompose”?
“Decompose” is a verb.
Where does the word “decompose” come from?
The word “decompose” comes from Middle French. Borrowed from Middle French décomposer, built from de- plus compose.
How many meanings does “decompose” have?
“Decompose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to break something down into its separate parts or components.
