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decadence

decadence

20 8.1
A decline in morals when people enjoy luxury and pleasure too much
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛkədəns/
translation icon : decadencia
  • The film critic described the novel as a tale of decadence, highlighting the characters' excessive luxury and moral decline.
  • moral decadence
  • signs of decadence
  • decadence and corruption

And Gibbon, the historian, argues about this complacency, this decadence sort of set in.

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Examples

  • Many argue that the city's rapid growth has led to its cultural decadence, filled with opulence and a disconnection from tradition.

  • I like them all because they show the decadence of the upper classes.

    Academic text (1999)
  • There is such decadence in the court that no one seems to care.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • At a time when moral decadence is evident on every hand, ... we need more religion, not less.

    Academic text (1991)
  • About the corruption, the violence and the decadence that we've come to expect as part of our daily life.

  • As a Republican reformer, Roosevelt was not simply concerned about the genteel decadence of the upper class.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Bertrand and Eliane symbolize the decadence of the Old World.

    Academic text (1994)
  • During the lavish gala, guests indulged in beautiful decor and endless food, embodying a spirit of decadence.

Synonyms

debauchery
vsdecadence
  • NSFW
18 9.1

Too much drinking and sex for pleasure

is broader, including general luxury and moral decline beyond sensual acts
degeneration
vsdecadence
8 7.5

A process of becoming worse in condition, quality, or morals

describes the resulting cultural decline caused by indulgent luxury
self-indulgence
vsdecadence
6 6.8

Giving yourself too much pleasure or comfort

is collective moral or cultural decline caused by lavish pleasure and luxury
degeneracy
vsdecadence
  • Offensive
2 9.3

A fall in moral and social standards showing corruption

focuses more on decline tied to excessive pleasure and luxury
dissipation
vsdecadence
  • NSFW
1 8.9

A life of too much pleasure that wastes money and harms health

frames decline more as cultural loss tied to luxury and excess
decadency
vsdecadence
9.5

A loss of moral and cultural values when people live only for pleasure

is the standard or more common spelling form
dissoluteness
vsdecadence
  • Formal
9.9

A lack of moral control that makes a person enjoy too many physical pleasures

frames this as a wider cultural decline, not only personal failing

Antonyms

259 3.8

A good personal quality like honesty or kindness

How Corrupt

depravity
  • Formal
25 8.8
corruption
355 4.8
decadence
20 8.1
virtue
259 3.8

Surface Forms

decadence singular
decadences plural

Morphology

decadence = decadent (semi-transparent) = de + cad + ence

The relation between 'decadent' (adj) and the noun 'decadence' is a standard adjective-to-noun derivation using a noun-forming suffix.

Etymology

The word decadence comes from Latin parts de- meaning 'down' and cadere meaning 'to fall', the same root as the English word 'decay'. So, decadence means a society or culture that has 'fallen down' into too much pleasure and luxury and is losing its good values.