| Main Entry: | atrophy |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | wasting away, disintegration |
Synonyms: |
decline, degeneracy, degeneration, deterioration, diminution, downfall, downgrade |
| Main Entry: | decay |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | breaking down, collapse |
Synonyms: |
adulteration, atrophy, blight, caries, consumption, corrosion, crumbling, decadence, decline, decomposition, decrease, decrepitude, degeneracy, degeneration, depreciation, deterioration, dilapidation, disintegration, disrepair, dissolution, downfall, dying, extinction, fading, failing, gangrene, impairment, mortification, perishing, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rot, rotting, ruin, ruination, rust, senescence, spoilage, spoilation, wasting, wasting away, withering |
Antonyms: |
development, flourish, germination, growth, improvement, ripening, strength, strengthening |
| Main Entry: | decay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deteriorate, crumble |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, be impaired, become contaminated, blight, break up, collapse, corrode, curdle, decline, decompose, defile, degenerate, depreciate, discolor, disintegrate, dissolve, dry-rot, dwindle, fade, fail, get worse, go bad, go to seed, go to the dogs, hit rock bottom, hit the skids, lessen, mildew, mold, molder, mortify, pejorate, perish, pollute, putrefy, putresce, reach depths, rot, sap, shrivel, sicken, sink, slump, spoil, suppurate, turn, wane, waste away, weaken, wear away, wither |
Antonyms: |
build, develop, flourish, germinate, grow, improve, ripen, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | degeneracy |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | decay, deterioration |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, debasement, declination, decline, decrease, depravation, devolution, downfall, downgrade |
Antonyms: |
development, improvement |
| Main Entry: | deterioration |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | decay, degeneration |
Synonyms: |
abasement, adulteration, atrophy, corrosion, crumbling, debasement, decadence, decaying, declension, declination, decline, decomposition, degradation, degringolade, depreciation, descent, devaluation, dilapidation, disintegration, dislocation, disrepair, downfall, downgrade, downturn, drop, fall, lapse, lessening, perversion, retrogression, rotting, ruin, slump, spoiling, vitiation, worsening |
Antonyms: |
betterment, building, construction, development, improvement |
| Main Entry: | downfall |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | disgrace, ruin |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, bane, breakdown, cloudburst, collapse, comedown, comeuppance, debacle, decadence, declension, degeneracy, degeneration, deluge, descent, destruction, deterioration, devolution, discomfiture, down, drop, failure, fall, flood, on the rocks, overthrow, rack and ruin, road to ruin, ruination, storm, the skids, undoing |
Antonyms: |
accomplishment, ascent, rise, success |
| Main Entry: | ruin |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | situation of devastation |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, bane, bankruptcy, bath, breakdown, collapse, confusion, crackup, crash, crumbling, damage, decay, defeat, degeneracy, degeneration, demolition, destitution, destruction, deterioration, dilapidation, disintegration, disrepair, dissolution, downfall, downgrade, extinction, failure, fall, havoc, insolvency, loss, nemesis, overthrow, ruination, skids, subversion, the end, undoing, waste, waterloo, wreck, wreckage |
| Notes: | rack is destruction and ruin is destitution; in rack and ruin, rack is a variation of wrack and wreck |
Antonyms: |
building, construction, creation, development, growth |
| Main Entry: | wane |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | diminish, lessen |
Synonyms: |
abate, atrophy, decline, decrease, die away, die down, die out, dim, draw to a close, drop, dwindle, ease off, ebb, fade, fade away, fail, fall, fall short, let up, moderate, peter out, relent, shrink, sink, slack off, slacken, subside, taper off, waste away, weaken, wind down, wither |
Antonyms: |
grow, increase, raise, rise |
| Main Entry: | waste |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | spend or use without thought; dwindle |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, be of no avail, blow, burn up, consume, corrode, crumble, debilitate, decay, decline, decrease, deplete, disable, disappear, dissipate, divert, drain, droop, eat away, ebb, emaciate, empty, enfeeble, exhaust, fade, fritter away, frivol away, gamble away, gnaw, go to waste, lavish, lose, misapply, misemploy, misuse, perish, pour down the drain, run dry, run through, sap, sink, splurge, squander, thin, throw away, trifle away, undermine, wane, wear, wear out, wilt, wither |
Antonyms: |
hoard, save |
| Main Entry: | wither |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | droop, decline |
Synonyms: |
atrophy, become stale, blast, blight, collapse, constrict, contract, decay, deflate, desiccate, deteriorate, die, disintegrate, dry, dry up, fade, fold, languish, perish, shrink, shrivel, wane, waste, waste away, wilt, wizen |
Antonyms: |
bloom, grow |