as in senility
technical + formal
the state of being old or the process of becoming old
premature senescence
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Recent Examples of senescence
Or, the first generation simply declined from senescence and the debilitating effects of power long exercised without check.
—
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
An early step in leaf senescence is formation of what’s called the abscission layer — a corky layer of cells that forms where the leaf petiole eventually detaches from the branch.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025
Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combined with senescence-inducing agents promotes T cell control of pancreatic cancer.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Though a longer period of senescence might sound exciting for autumn enthusiasts, the downside is that leaves have less time to photosynthesize.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senescence
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
An early step in leaf senescence is formation of what’s called the abscission layer — a corky layer of cells that forms where the leaf petiole eventually detaches from the branch.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025
Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combined with senescence-inducing agents promotes T cell control of pancreatic cancer.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Though a longer period of senescence might sound exciting for autumn enthusiasts, the downside is that leaves have less time to photosynthesize.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senescence
Noun
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Then the interview happens, and Thomas is swinging between lucidity and senility, and a million things about their relationship come up, and the fiction records the interview the phone couldn’t capture.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Is Chuck Schumer headed down the same dark treadmill to senility pioneered by Dementia Joe Biden before him?—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Has the state of the world, your age, anything sort of changed your motivation toward the game?—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Positive Results Center empowers healing journeys, helping people of all ages discover their dreams and potential.—
Staff Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Far from being a sign of dotage, scientists concurred, music practice in old age confers all kinds of cognitive benefits.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In his basketball dotage, Kyle Lowry is getting soft.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In response to these challenges, the company encourages a shift in perspective that supports greater operational maturity.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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From poise and football maturity, Moore plays beyond his years (see his 2025 Penn State tape).—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Senescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senescence. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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