English Explanatory Dictionary

decadent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Characterized by moral or cultural decline.
  2. Luxuriously self-indulgent.
noun
  1. A person affected by moral decay.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɛkədənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-decadent.wav

Word forms

decadent more decadent most decadent décadent decadents

Etymology

From French décadent, a back-formation from décadence (see -ent), from Medieval Latin dēcadentia, from Late Latin dēcadēns, present participle of dēcadō, dēcidō (“sink, fall; perish”), from Latin dē- + cadō (“fall”).

Synonyms

corrupted degenerate aberrant corrupt depraved dirty-handed dissolute effete errant indecent indecorous immodest immoral improper incontinent iniquitous iniquous licentious nought obscene perverse perverted profligate reprobate unduteous undutiful unethical ungodly unjust unprincipled unrighteous unseemly unscrupulous unworthy wrong epicurean sinful Babylonian decadent epicureal epicureous epicurish hedonic hedonistic intemperate lotus-eating luxurious naughty self-indulgent sensualistic sybarite sybaritic sybaritical voluptuarian voluptuary

Related words

decadence

Derived words

decadentism decadently nondecadent undecadent
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