NYT Dictionary

DECADENCE

/ˈdɛkədəns/
NounDEC-a-dencedec-a-dence · 3 syllablesGrade 7

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A state of moral or artistic decline or deterioration; decay

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From French décadence, from Medieval Latin decadentia (“decay”), from *decadens (“decaying”), present participle of *decadere (“to decay”); see decay.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

degeneracydegenerationdecadencyabandonabjectionatrophycomedowncorruptionabandonmentcorruptedness

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 7 recorded puzzles:

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