ENGLISH
REFERENCE

decadence

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈdɛkədəns// UK //dˈɛkədəns// deca·dence

n. a state of extreme luxury and pleasure, often seen as a sign that a society or person is becoming weak or corrupt.

n. a state of extreme indulgence in luxury and pleasure, typically viewed as a sign of moral or social decay.


SIMPLE

The hotel was famous for its decadence and high prices.

CONTEXTUAL

The city's history is marked by a period of decadence where the elite spent vast sums on art and entertainment.

COMPLEX

Critics argued that the film's visual decadence masked a deeper narrative of systemic failure, suggesting that the characters' excesses were a symptom of a collapsing social order.

Synonyms
Origin

From French décadence, from Medieval Latin decadentia (“decay”), from decadens (“decaying”), present participle of decadere (“to decay”); see decay.

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