How to Use decompose in a Sentence

decompose

verb
  • The compound will decompose in the presence of light.
  • Bacteria and fungi help decompose organic matter.
  • Leave the roots in the soil to decompose or take them out and compost them along with the leaves.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2021
  • Their venom, which smells like rotting eggs, is volatile enough to decompose the flesh of others.
    Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2020
  • From there, the leaves go into big (very big) piles that are left to decompose and break down with the elements.
    Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2020
  • Most sink to the bottom of the ocean or decompose without making landfall.
    Kurtis Alexander, SFChronicle.com, 9 Jan. 2021
  • Rubber mulches work well too but do not decompose to release nutrients.
    Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Mar. 2021
  • And the lawn clippings laying there will soon decompose into rich nutrients to nourish the lawn.
    Spike Carlsen, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2020
  • This likely indicates that the bog butter once lay in a wooden container that has since decomposed.
    Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2024
  • Be sure to remove any nylon or plastic covering or string, since these materials never decompose and can girdle the trunk and roots as the plant grows.
    Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 26 Oct. 2020
  • Then there’s a cold catalyst filtration, which sets out to decompose multiple harmful gases.
    Ellen McAlpine, CNN Underscored, 9 Nov. 2020
  • Brown materials have lots of carbon but not enough nitrogen to allow the microorganism to rapidly decompose them.
    Dan Gill, NOLA.com, 18 Nov. 2020
  • The eggshell will naturally (albeit slowly) decompose in the soil, giving your plants extra nutrients.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2021
  • Fungi and bacteria must have water to decompose organic matter.
    Dan Gill, NOLA.com, 18 Nov. 2020
  • The material, which takes one million years to decompose in a landfill, can eventually be used to mold durable items for cars, home building materials and eyeglasses.
    Sandra E. Garcia, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2020
  • If the body is decomposed, gases may cause the lungs to float.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 28 Nov. 2023
  • Acting as prisms do, the droplets decompose the rays of the sun into the colors of the, well, rainbow.
    Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2022
  • The ice preserved the man so well that his body, clothes and tools never decomposed.
    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023
  • Crews then bury it in sand and allow the decomposing sea grass to feed the sea oats and build up sand dunes.
    Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 17 Mar. 2023
  • The 30-foot decomposing gray whale was likely washed ashore by the storms.
    Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024
  • The cardboard will decompose into the soil and keep your path weed-free.
    Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
  • Corpses began to pile up and decompose in the warmer weather.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2024
  • Ron’s body had begun to decompose on their bed — a sight that still haunts Lisa.
    Kimberly C. Moore, The Ledger, Lakeland, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2021
  • In Moab’s arid climate, trash takes decades to decompose—so pack it out.
    Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 25 Oct. 2022
  • Wrapped in black plastic, clad in jeans and a T-shirt, the corpse was decomposed, and the police were trying to make an ID.
    Seyward Darby, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2024
  • And if a body has started to decompose, gases from that process can cause the lungs to float in water.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 7 Oct. 2023
  • Her body, while no longer warm, hasn’t even decomposed.
    Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
  • And some of the buildings have the smell of decomposing bodies coming from them.
    Zoe Magee, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2023
  • Toni’s body was decomposed, and his hands had been bound behind his back.
    Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
  • Additionally, cutting food waste can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as decomposing food in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
    Mikko Karkkainen, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decompose.' 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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