decadent
- adjective
- /ˈdɛkədənt/
- She described the decadent lifestyle of the celebrities living in luxury.
- a decadent society
- a decadent aesthetic
- a decadent artist
All of this, for critics, was at once unjustifiable and the hallmark of decadent description.
- All of this, for critics, was at once unjustifiable and the hallmark of decadent description.
- You know, he thought it was completely culturally decadent and sort of despicable in fact.
- But now we're in this decadent, ornate studio not built for podcasting, OK?
- So this has notes of decadent milk chocolate, fresh steamed milk, and mini marshmallows.
- He said if Napoleon had not been, you know, ousted by the the decadent monarchies of Europe, we would have had we would have been on the moon.
- So I'm afraid the whole thing has shown our reaction to COVID has shown, I think, the extent to which we are in a fully decadent society.
- But at the time it, it, it seems kind of decadent and, and, you know, morbid.
Examples
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This is the most moist, decadent piece of bread I've had in my entire life.
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It's a perfectly well balanced, well ratioed, delicious, decadent slice of the UK.
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It's a very decadent southern sweet thing.
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- It is one wild, decadent week.
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The West is decadent and divided.
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It's sweet and rich and decadent and unbelievable.
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Tonight, I'm going to be really decadent and sleep for twelve hours.
Fiction book (1995) -
The entire system has become corrupt and decadent, and there needs to be a revolution.
Blog text (4) -
No matter what their appearance, these were ancient houseboats of the most decadent sort.
Academic text (2002) -
Today civilisation as we know it is corrupt and decadent.
Synonyms
Giving yourself whatever you want, often by buying or eating too much
Loving fine food, drink and a life of comfort and luxury
Spending money in a careless, wasteful way
A person who spends health and money on pleasure without self control
Spending money or time wastefully to enjoy life
Antonyms
How Indulgent
Surface Forms
Morphology
decadent = decadence (semi-transparent) = decad + ent
Formally derived from 'decadence' + the adjective-forming suffix '-ent', but the contemporary sense of indulgent luxury is a metaphorical extension from 'decline' and may not be fully obvious to learners.
Etymology
Decadent comes from Latin parts de- meaning 'down' and cadere meaning 'to fall', and it is like the English word decay. So to be decadent is to be 'falling down' into too much luxury or moral decline.