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To be decadent is to be in the process of decay, so a powerful nation may be said to be in a decadent stage if its power is fading. But the word is more often used to speak of moral decay. Ever since the Roman empire, we've tended to link Rome's fall to the moral decay of its ruling class, who indulged in extreme luxuries and unwholesome pleasures while providing the public with cruel spectacles such as the slaughter of the gladiators. But not everyone agrees on what moral decadence looks like (or even how it might have hastened the fall of Rome), though most people think it involves too many sensual pleasures—as, for instance, among the French and English poets and artists of the 1880s and ʼ90s called the Decadents. These days, for some reason, people have decided decadent is the way to describe rich chocolate cakes.
Synonyms
Examples of decadent in a Sentence
EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024
Glass and Vine Adults can enjoy decadent dishes like tuna tartare and chicken black truffle gnocchi while the kids dine from their own menu and play in the adjacent park.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
The chain is known for its goblet drinks, decadent sundaes and lavish entrees.
—Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2024
At a recent Pizzeria Sei test tasting, toppings ranged from California-roll-inspired to decadent potato and caviar to silky Wagyu beef tongue.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
The venue has been transformed into the Kit Kat Club, the Weimar era Berlin nightspot, where the naughty pastiche score by John Kander and Fred Ebb gets to strut its decadent stuff.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The desert getaway is no doubt a haven for those looking for any kind of summer indulgence, from lavish poolside party scenes to decadent spa retreats — and everything in between.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Get The Recipe 06 of 28 Tres Leches Cake
This decadent cake is a longtime make-ahead favorite.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024
And these wonderfully decadent desserts will make a lasting impression.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Jesse Green, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The bathroom had a massive stand-alone tub and a rainfall shower with soaps made by local artisans that smelled woodsy and decadent.
—Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
And now, in perhaps the most decadent of all the croissant creations: Behold the crookie.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2024
Last night, at Sabyasachi’s decadent Christopher Street store in Manhattan's West Village, the Indian fashion house celebrated its collaboration with Estée Lauder.
—Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
This decadent, triple-layered egg, made by Chocolarder for Selfridges, includes the best of several types of chocolate: dark in the center, then ganache and then milk on the outside.
—Helen Chandler-Wilde, Fortune Europe, 22 Mar. 2024
Finished with a buttery ganache on top, this decadent treat feature a creamy layer of pistachio flavor in its middle.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024
Moving into the ‘70s, the cool-toned shimmering lips went bronze and brick, and leaned both bohemian and Disco decadent depending on the context.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2024
Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decadent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decadent. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
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