decadment
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.
Examples
3 of 5Indulging 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.
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.
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.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Decay' + 'Dance'. Imagine a society dancing and partying while their foundations are slowly decaying around them.
Quick Quiz
The philosopher argued that the obsession with celebrity culture was a clear sign of the nation's cultural ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: decadence
Examples
Indulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.
everydayIndulging in a second piece of triple-chocolate cake felt like a moment of pure decadence.
The fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.
formalThe fall of the empire was attributed by historians to centuries of moral and political decadence.
The whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.
informalThe whole party was just pure decadence, with gold-leafed everything and endless champagne.
The 19th-century Decadent movement in literature challenged traditional aesthetic values by celebrating artifice over nature.
academicThe 19th-century Decadent movement in literature challenged traditional aesthetic values by celebrating artifice over nature.
The lavish executive retreat was criticized as a sign of corporate decadence during a time of widespread layoffs.
businessThe lavish executive retreat was criticized as a sign of corporate decadence during a time of widespread layoffs.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
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
Often Confused With
Decay is a general term for biological or physical rotting, while decadence specifically refers to moral or social decline through excessive luxury.
Usage Notes
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'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misspell the word as 'decadment' or 'decadance'. Note that the suffix is '-ence'.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Decay' + 'Dance'. Imagine a society dancing and partying while their foundations are slowly decaying around them.
Word Origin
From the Middle French word 'décadence', which originated from the Medieval Latin 'decadentia', meaning 'a falling away'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
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.
Quick Quiz
The philosopher argued that the obsession with celebrity culture was a clear sign of the nation's cultural ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: decadence
Related Words
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