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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.
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Examples of decadent in a Sentence
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
Despite the war raging around it, the city’s French concession is decadent and full of spies.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024
The whiskey is delicate and decadent, with notes of oak, chocolate, dark stone fruit, and tobacco on the palate—a worthwhile splurge for sure.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024
Then to take it over the top, sprinkle on a brown sugar-walnut streusel and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
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Chocolate-Banana Donuts
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Feel good about diving into these decadent chocolate donuts.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2024
In the decadent photograph, Crawford throws her head back, her skin incandescent against Gable’s black suit, the dark spangles of her gossamer-like dress catching the light.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
The effect, enhanced by the stealth-wealth decor, recalls his relaxed yet deceptively decadent suits.
—Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2024
Meatloaf Surprise Here's an unforgettable April Fool's Day prank for kids: Make meatloaf and mashed potatoes look like a decadent cake!
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
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
Get The Recipe 09 of 10 Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
This decadent chocolate cheesecake is topped with a white chocolate snowflake garnish for a festive touch.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2024
The main bedroom, on the other side of the kitchen, is in a different register: decadent and moody.
—Max Berlinger, New York Times, 1 Mar. 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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“Decadent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decadent. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on decadent
Nglish: Translation of decadent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of decadent for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about decadent
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