| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | breaking down, collapse |
| Synonyms: | adulteration, atrophy, blight, caries, consumption, corrosion, crumbling, decadence, decline, decomposition, decrease, decrepitude, degeneracy, degeneration, depreciation, deterioration, dilapidation, disintegration, disrepair, dissolution, downfall, dying, extinction, fading, failing, gangrene, impairment, mortification, perishing, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rot, rotting, ruin, ruination, rust, senescence, spoilage, spoilation, wasting, wasting away, withering |
| Antonyms: | development, flourish, germination, growth, improvement, ripening, strength, strengthening |
| Main Entry: | bite |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | corrode, eat away |
| Synonyms: | burn, consume, decay, decompose, deteriorate, dissolve, eat into, engrave, erode, etch, oxidize, rot, rust, scour, sear, slash, smart, sting, tingle, wear away |
| Main Entry: | blight |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | disease; plague |
| Synonyms: | affliction, bane, blot on the landscape, canker, contamination, corruption, curse, decay, dump, evil, eyesore, fungus, infestation, mildew, pest, pestilence, pollution, rot, scourge, sight, withering, woe |
| Antonyms: | blessing, boon, health, prosperity |
| Main Entry: | blight |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ruin, destroy |
| Synonyms: | annihilate, blast, crush, damage, dash, decay, disappoint, foul up, frustrate, glitch up, injure, mar, mess up*, nip in the bud, nullify, shrivel, spoil, taint, trash*, wither, wreck |
| Antonyms: | aid, bless, guard, help, prosper, protect |
| Main Entry: | cavity |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | sunken or decayed area |
| Synonyms: | armpit, atrium, basin, bursa, caries, chamber, crater, decay, dent, depression, gap, hole, hollow, pit, pocket, sinus, socket, vacuity, void |
| Main Entry: | consume |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | destroy |
| Synonyms: | annihilate, crush, decay, demolish, devastate, eat up, exhaust, expend, extinguish, lay waste, overwhelm, ravage, raze, ruin, suppress, waste, wreck |
| Antonyms: | build, construct |
| Main Entry: | consumption |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | devouring; use |
| Synonyms: | burning, consuming, damage, decay, decrease, depletion, desolation, destruction, devastation, diminution, dispersion, dissipation, drinking, eating, exhaustion, expenditure, loss, misuse, ruin, swallowing, using up, utilization, waste, wear and tear |
| Antonyms: | fasting, starvation |
| Main Entry: | contamination |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | adulteration |
| Synonyms: | contagion, corruption, decay, defilement, dirtying, disease, epidemic, filth, foulness, impurity, infection, pestilence, plague, poisoning, pollution, radioactivation, rottenness, spoliation, taint |
| Antonyms: | cleaning, cure, healing, purification, sterilization |
| Main Entry: | corrosion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | disintegration |
| Synonyms: | decay, decomposition, degeneration, deterioration, erosion, oxidation, rust, wear |
| Notes: | abrasion is the process of wearing down or rubbing away by means of friction; corrosion is the act or process of destroying a metal or alloy gradually, especially by oxidation or chemical action; erosion is any of a group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface |