decompose
verb
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Definition of decompose
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Other Words from decompose
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noun
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adjective
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noun
Synonyms for decompose
Synonyms
break down, corrupt, decay, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil
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Examples of decompose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The body was badly decomposed, mostly skeletal, and there was no evidence of how the person may have died. — Tammy Ayer, The Seattle Times, "‘We have so many missing people’: Coroner tests remains found on Yakima River island as families wait, hope," 7 Aug. 2019 Anvil 10+10 is made from sumithrin, a chemical that is used to kill mosquitoes and rapidly decomposes and deactivates when exposed to light and air, officials said. — Maria Lovato, BostonGlobe.com, "22 communities at high risk from mosquito-borne virus; Mass. to spray insecticide," 6 Aug. 2019 Bailey said the body was decomposed enough that investigators would need an autopsy to determine the person’s gender. — oregonlive.com, "Medical examiners ID body found in Deschutes National Forest," 2 Aug. 2019 Wired’s Matt Simon further explains that peat, made up of decomposing organic matter such as moss, hardens into coal when enough pressure is applied. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "The Arctic Is Experiencing Its Worst Wildfire Season on Record," 30 July 2019 Rene Taboas says that at the homes of trappers in Florida, dead birds often are found in backyards decomposing near the cages of live birds. — Karine Aigner, National Geographic, "Songbirds are being snatched from Miami’s forests," 25 July 2019 After two days, the stench of their decomposing corpses became unbearable, Warnock recalled. — Lauren Cook, CNN, "Their ancestors were slain a century ago along the US-Mexico border. They say now is the time to retell the horror," 20 July 2019 To ensure that the bodies did not decompose, the rescue team would often have to cover them in snow. — Niha Masih, Washington Post, "Eight climbers died in the Himalayas. This GoPro footage shows the last video of them still alive.," 9 July 2019 Adding certain types of biomass to the soil and covering it in plastic can kill the spores, as the material decomposes and releases gas toxic to bacteria and fungi. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Devastating banana disease may have reached Latin America, could drive up global prices," 17 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decompose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for decompose
decompose
verb
English Language Learners Definition of decompose
See the full definition for decompose in the English Language Learners Dictionary
decompose
verb
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Kids Definition of decompose
decompose
verb
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