decadence
decadence Lexical Profile
decadence Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
"Historians have long debated whether political corruption and social decadence contributed to the fall of the empire."
Luxurious self-indulgence, especially in rich food, drink, or leisure.
"The five-course dessert tasting menu was an exercise in pure culinary decadence."
Word Nuance & Usage
While historically used in a negative sense to describe moral or cultural decay, in modern casual usage it often carries a playful, positive connotation of luxurious self-indulgence, especially regarding rich foods like chocolate.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French décadence, from Medieval Latin decadentia ('a falling down or decline'), derived from Latin de- ('down') and cadere ('to fall').