1
as in degenerate
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
social critics claimed that their culture had become decadent and weak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
opponents of gambling casinos claim that gambling is a decadent form of entertainment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in luxurious
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires
the impressionable heiress couldn't resist the decadent temptations of the jet-set life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
avant-garde artists who were scorned by the bourgeoisie as talentless decadents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hedonist
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures
a decadent who squandered her once considerable family fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decadent
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The standout performances from the launch, which is available starting tomorrow, include high-pile cognac rugs, sprawling burl wood pieces, many a gold accent, and an especially decadent cream lacquer.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
This decadent no-bake dessert takes just 25 minutes to assemble and calls upon instant pudding mix to get the job done quickly.
—Jessica Saari Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Adjective
This new single malt was aged entirely in European and American oak sherry casks, resulting in a palate that is rich, decadent, and vibrant despite its elevated age.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The standout performances from the launch, which is available starting tomorrow, include high-pile cognac rugs, sprawling burl wood pieces, many a gold accent, and an especially decadent cream lacquer.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Easter brunch is the perfect excuse to cook these decadents rolls—and, trust us, everyone will thank you.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
This decadent no-bake dessert takes just 25 minutes to assemble and calls upon instant pudding mix to get the job done quickly.
—Jessica Saari Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decadent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decadent
Adjective
-
Be classy, yet still maintain some of your degenerate tendencies.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
According to a federal indictment, Maduro and his alleged co-conspirators spent decades working alongside some of the world’s most violent drug traffickers and corrupt regional officials to funnel large quantities of cocaine into the United States.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson argued that Burt Jones' work in the legislature was further evidence that the lieutenant governor is corrupt, a message that the health care tycoon is pushing in advertising too.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dry Goods and its sibling stores, Wild Life and Workshop, had music from former first lady of France Carla Bruni playing over the stereo and were heavy on Belgian and Japanese lines that were equal parts luxurious (silk) and frumpy (boxy).—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The luxurious-feeling moisturizer contains a ferment concentrate to fade sun spots or dark spots, and to combat wrinkles for a more resilient finish.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
You are being spied on by a pervert.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And what fame gave me, what addiction fueled was opportunity for endless consent, which led me to be a hedonist and a fool and an exploiter of women.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And what fame gave me and what my addiction fueled was opportunity for endless consent, which led me to be a hedonist and a fool and an exploiter of women.—
Lindsay Kimble,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Scarf critics accuse the accessory—and by extension, its wearers—of being effete or affected.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
1 Dec. 2025
-
What we’re left with is an effete description that exists for itself and doesn’t illuminate the character.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are degraded but functioning, with Israel still regularly launching strikes at both.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The former housekeeper for Jenner further claims that she was mocked for her accent and degraded.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
From cheeky shots of celebrities like Jane Fonda and Arnold Schwarzenegger to extravagant, sensual portfolios of America’s Olympic squads, the magazine’s pantheon of photographers have helped to define the genre of sports portraiture.—
Jonathan Pace,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Here, the sado-sensual yearning of the Confederacy to instantiate itself through the fetishes and reliquaries of figurative sculpture is shown as hollow, impotent, all too discomfiting, and very real.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decadent. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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