| 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: | bite |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | corrode, eat away |
Synonyms: |
burn, consume, decay, decompose, deteriorate, dissolve, eat into, engrave, erode, etch, oxidize, rot, rust, scour, sear, slash, smart, sting, tingle, wear away |
| Main Entry: | blight |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | disease; plague |
Synonyms: |
affliction, bane, blot on the landscape, canker, contamination, corruption, curse, decay, dump, evil, eyesore, fungus, infestation, mildew, pest, pestilence, pollution, rot, scourge, sight, withering, woe |
Antonyms: |
blessing, boon, health, prosperity |
| Main Entry: | blight |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ruin, destroy |
Synonyms: |
annihilate, blast, crush, damage, dash, decay, disappoint, foul up, frustrate, glitch up, injure, mar, mess up*, nip in the bud, nullify, shrivel, spoil, taint, trash*, wither, wreck |
Antonyms: |
aid, bless, guard, help, prosper, protect |
| Main Entry: | cavity |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | sunken or decayed area |
Synonyms: |
armpit, atrium, basin, bursa, caries, chamber, crater, decay, dent, depression, gap, hole, hollow, pit, pocket, sinus, socket, vacuity, void |
| Main Entry: | consume |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | destroy |
Synonyms: |
annihilate, crush, decay, demolish, devastate, eat up, exhaust, expend, extinguish, lay waste, overwhelm, ravage, raze, ruin, suppress, waste, wreck |
Antonyms: |
build, construct |
| Main Entry: | consumption |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | devouring; use |
Synonyms: |
burning, consuming, damage, decay, decrease, depletion, desolation, destruction, devastation, diminution, dispersion, dissipation, drinking, eating, exhaustion, expenditure, loss, misuse, ruin, swallowing, using up, utilization, waste, wear and tear |
Antonyms: |
fasting, starvation |
| Main Entry: | contamination |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | adulteration |
Synonyms: |
contagion, corruption, decay, defilement, dirtying, disease, epidemic, filth, foulness, impurity, infection, pestilence, plague, poisoning, pollution, radioactivation, rottenness, spoliation, taint |
Antonyms: |
cleaning, cure, healing, purification, sterilization |
| Main Entry: | corrosion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | disintegration |
Synonyms: |
decay, decomposition, degeneration, deterioration, erosion, oxidation, rust, wear |
| Notes: | abrasion is the process of wearing down or rubbing away by means of friction; corrosion is the act or process of destroying a metal or alloy gradually, especially by oxidation or chemical action; erosion is any of a group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface |