Decay
Decay noun - A gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body.
Degradation is a synonym for decay in decline topic. In some cases you can use "Degradation" instead a noun "Decay", when it comes to topics like decrease, deterioration.
Degradation
Degradation noun - A change to a lower state or level.
Usage example: English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about
Decay is a synonym for degradation in decline topic. You can use "Decay" instead a noun "Degradation", if it concerns topics such as decrease, deterioration.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
| physical | physical decay | physical degradation |
| similar | similar decay | similar degradation |
| real | real decay | real degradation |
| constant | constant decay | constant degradation |
| Other adjectives: severe, massive, intense, unfortunate, slow, gradual, inherent, moral, mental, societal, less, eternal, significant, accelerated, rapid, cellular, neural, ongoing, environmental. | ||
Cite this Source
Degradation and Decay. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/degradation
Decay & Degradation. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/degradation>.
Degradation or Decay. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/degradation.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "decay" and "degradation" have occurred on timeline