C1 noun Littéraire

decadment

/ˈdɛkədəns/

The state of moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in luxury, pleasure, and self-gratification. It typically describes a period of deterioration in a society or individual's values following a peak of achievement or prosperity.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

Indulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.

Indulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.

2

The fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.

The fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.

3

The whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.

The whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.

Famille de mots

Nom
decadence
Verb
decay
Adverbe
decadently
Adjectif
decadent
Apparenté
decadentism
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Astuce mémo

Think of 'Decay' + 'Dance'. Imagine a society dancing and partying while their foundations are slowly decaying around them.

Quiz rapide

The philosopher argued that the obsession with celebrity culture was a clear sign of the nation's cultural ______.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : decadence

Exemples

1

Indulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.

everyday

Indulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.

2

The fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.

formal

The fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.

3

The whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.

informal

The whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.

4

The 19th-century Decadent movement in literature challenged traditional aesthetic values by celebrating artifice over nature.

academic

The 19th-century Decadent movement in literature challenged traditional aesthetic values by celebrating artifice over nature.

5

The lavish executive retreat was criticized as a sign of corporate decadence during a time of widespread layoffs.

business

The lavish executive retreat was criticized as a sign of corporate decadence during a time of widespread layoffs.

Famille de mots

Nom
decadence
Verb
decay
Adverbe
decadently
Adjectif
decadent
Apparenté
decadentism

Collocations courantes

moral decadence moral decadence
height of decadence height of decadence
cultural decadence cultural decadence
pure decadence pure decadence
era of decadence era of decadence

Phrases Courantes

wallow in decadence

to indulge excessively in luxury or immoral pleasures

the smell of decadence

an atmosphere characterized by excessive luxury and rot

signs of decadence

indications of moral or societal decline

Souvent confondu avec

decadment vs decay

Decay is a general term for biological or physical rotting, while decadence specifically refers to moral or social decline through excessive luxury.

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Notes d'usage

The word is often used with a negative connotation to criticize excess, but in modern contexts like food or fashion, it is sometimes used positively to mean 'delightfully indulgent'.

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Erreurs courantes

Learners often misspell the word as 'decadment' or 'decadance'. Note that the suffix is '-ence'.

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Astuce mémo

Think of 'Decay' + 'Dance'. Imagine a society dancing and partying while their foundations are slowly decaying around them.

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Origine du mot

From the Middle French word 'décadence', which originated from the Medieval Latin 'decadentia', meaning 'a falling away'.

Modèles grammaticaux

uncountable noun usually followed by 'of' (decadence of modern society) often used as a subject or object in formal sentences
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Contexte culturel

In Western history, 'decadence' is often associated with the late Roman Empire or the 1920s 'Jazz Age' as periods of high luxury before a crash.

Quiz rapide

The philosopher argued that the obsession with celebrity culture was a clear sign of the nation's cultural ______.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : decadence

Mots lis

bolster

C1

To support, strengthen, or provide additional evidence for something, making it more effective or resilient. In an academic or professional context, it often refers to reinforcing an argument, a theory, or a financial position.

bonanza

C1

A situation which creates very sudden wealth, luck, or fortune, often on a large scale. It is frequently used to describe a source of great profit or a sudden windfall in business or natural resources.

botch

C1

A botch refers to a piece of work that has been performed poorly, clumsily, or carelessly, resulting in a failed or messy outcome. It often describes a task that was attempted without the necessary skill or attention to detail, leading to a ruined result.

bout

C1

A brief period of intense activity, or a specific occurrence of something, such as an illness or a strong emotion. It is frequently used to describe a temporary struggle or a competitive match in sports like boxing.

brazen

C1

Brazen describes behavior that is bold, shameless, and often shocking because it ignores traditional rules of conduct or morality. It is frequently used when someone does something wrong but makes no effort to hide their actions.

brilliant

C1

Exceptionally clever, talented, or impressive in intellectual or creative pursuits. It can also describe something that shines with extreme brightness or intense color, often signifying superior quality or clarity.

bristle

C1

A short, stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a brush. In a scientific or academic context, it refers to any stiff, hair-like structure on an organism.

brochure

C1

A small booklet or pamphlet containing pictures and information about a product, service, or location. It is typically used for advertising or to provide detailed information to a specific audience in a compact format.

browse

C1

In an informational context, a browse is an exploratory, non-linear act of surveying data or items without a specific target. In ecology, it refers to the edible parts of woody plants, such as twigs and shoots, which serve as a primary food source for herbivores.

bulge

C1

To swell or protrude outward beyond the normal surface, typically due to internal pressure or being overfilled. In a broader sense, it can describe a sudden, temporary increase in volume, quantity, or statistical data within a specific segment.

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