wasting away

ADJECTIVE

decaying

Synonyms

STRONGEST

collapsing crumbling deteriorating

STRONG

decomposing disintegrating eroding oxidizing rusting spoiling

WEAK

breaking down breaking up falling to pieces in ruins wearing away

ADJECTIVE

rotting

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decaying rotten

STRONG

decomposing disintegrating

NOUN

decay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blight corrosion decomposition degeneration deterioration disintegration disrepair extinction impairment rot

STRONG

adulteration atrophy caries consumption crumbling decadence decline decrease decrepitude degeneracy depreciation dilapidation dissolution downfall dying fading failing gangrene mortification perishing putrefaction putrescence putridity putridness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

building development growth improvement

STRONG

ascent construction increase morality rise

WEAK

flourish germination ripening strength strengthening

NOUN

emaciation

Synonyms

STRONG

anorexia atrophy attenuation boniness consumption malnutrition marasmus skinniness starvation tabes thinness undernourishment wasting withering

WEAK

haggardness

NOUN

putrefaction

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrescence putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling perishing

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

putrescence

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling perishing

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

putridness

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putrescence putridity rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilage spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling perishing

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

NOUN

spoilage

Synonyms

STRONG

adulteration atrophy blight breakdown caries consumption corrosion decadence decline decomposition decrease decrepitude degeneracy degeneration depreciation deterioration dilapidation disintegration disrepair dissolution downfall dying extinction fading failing gangrene impairment mortification putrefaction putrescence putridity putridness rot rottenness rotting ruin ruination rust senescence spoilation wasting withering

WEAK

crumbling perishing

Antonyms

STRONG

ascent betterment building combination construction development growth improvement increase morality rise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Retirees can easily find themselves wasting away free time on social media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

The retired Canadian insurance adviser was 93, and "was wasting away" after a long battle with prostate cancer.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

"There's no information. Everything along the chain has to be stopped, and then there are thousands of pounds worth of product that are just wasting away."

From BBC • May 20, 2025

Key West earned the nickname “Margaritaville” after his song about wasting away by the sea looking for a lost shaker of salt.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2024

A post-mortem examination revealed a complete wasting away of the bone marrow.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

wasting away

Example Sentences

Related Words