C1 noun Literary

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.

Examples

3 of 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.

Word Family

Noun
decadence
Verb
decay
Adverb
decadently
Adjective
decadent
Related
decadentism
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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

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.

Word Family

Noun
decadence
Verb
decay
Adverb
decadently
Adjective
decadent
Related
decadentism

Common Collocations

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

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

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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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'.

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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

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

overcredant

C1

To accord excessive belief or trust to a statement, theory, or individual without sufficient verification. It describes the act of being overly ready to accept something as true, often disregarding critical analysis or conflicting evidence.

overmercery

C1

Relating to an excessive or obsessive focus on trade, commerce, and the buying or selling of goods. It describes a mindset where mercantile interests and the pursuit of commercial profit override social, ethical, or aesthetic considerations.

multihabacy

C1

To maintain a presence or existence across multiple habitats, environments, or distinct social spheres simultaneously. It describes the active process of adapting to and functioning within diverse physical or conceptual spaces.

foretheist

C1

To prefigure or establish a theological framework or belief in a deity before a main religious system becomes dominant. It is often used in academic contexts to describe the historical anticipation of a specific religious shift.

hyperultimness

C1

To reach or push a process, system, or state to its absolute final and most extreme limit of completion or perfection. It involves the deliberate act of maximizing every possible variable to achieve a definitive, ultimate result.

adnegation

C1

Adnegation is a formal term referring to the act of denial or refusal. It is most commonly used in legal, philosophical, or highly formal contexts to describe the rejection of a claim, request, or proposition.

synannous

C1

A botanical term used as a noun to refer to a plant species or specimen in which the leaves and flowers appear at the same time. It describes a specific phenological state where the vegetative and reproductive stages of a plant's annual cycle overlap perfectly.

unsumcide

C1

To intentionally dismantle a summary or total conclusion, often by breaking a consolidated result back down into its original disparate parts. It is typically used in analytical contexts to describe the invalidation or reversal of an aggregated data set.

innascible

C1

Describing something that cannot be born or has no beginning or origin. It is a highly specialized term used primarily in theology and philosophy to refer to uncreated or eternal beings.

nonanthropancy

C1

The state or quality of being non-human or the absence of human involvement, characteristics, and perspectives. It refers to entities, systems, or environments that exist or operate independently of human influence or anthropocentric values.

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