adj
decayed
dih-KAYD
Decayed (adj) means having rotted or broken down. Example: “The dentist pointed out two decayed teeth that needed filling.”
adj
1
Having rotted or broken down.
"The dentist pointed out two decayed teeth that needed filling."
"The decayed remains of the pilot's shirt showed where the plane had been shot down."
2
Having declined from a former, better condition.
"The mansion stood decayed and abandoned at the end of the drive."
How to use decayed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRotted, or fallen into a worse state than before.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like decayed.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more decayed
- Superlative
- most decayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dentist pointed out two _____ teeth that needed filling.
Synonyms
View more →
rotted
blighted
cankered
dotterel
forworn
moldering
rotten
putrefacient
putrefactive
putrescent
putrid
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for decayed
See all rhymes for decayed →Frequently asked questions
What does “decayed” mean?
The word “decayed” means having rotted or broken down. In plain terms, rotted, or fallen into a worse state than before.
How do you pronounce “decayed”?
“Decayed” is pronounced dih-KAYD (/dɪˈkeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “decayed” in a sentence?
Here is “decayed” used in a sentence: “The dentist pointed out two decayed teeth that needed filling.”
What is another word for “decayed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “decayed” include blighted, cankered, dotterel, forworn, moldering and rotten.
What is the opposite of “decayed”?
The opposite of “decayed” — its antonyms — are nondecayed, unblighted, uncankered, undecayed and unrotten.
What part of speech is “decayed”?
“Decayed” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “decayed” have?
“Decayed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having rotted or broken down.