moldering
Crumbling to dust
Moldering describes the slow decay of organic matter—rotting, crumbling, disintegrating over time.
Old books molder in forgotten corners of libraries.
A corpse molders in its grave.
The word suggests neglect and the quiet work of time: moldering ruins, moldering leaves on the forest floor.
Figuratively, something can molder from disuse: His talents moldered while he worked a dead-end job.
Breakdown into simpler parts
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
fermentation · spoilage · fester · putrescence · necrosis · deterioration · breakdown · disintegration
Not given proper attention
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- forsakenCompletely abandoned or discarded
- disusedNo longer in operation
- dustyCoated with fine particles
cobwebbed · unremembered · overlooked · lost · relic · bygone · antiquated · faded
Ruined through neglect
- decrepitWorn by age
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
- tumbledownRuined through neglect
- disrepairPoor maintained condition
collapsing · weathered · eroded · fragmenting · ramshackle · ruins · rubble · wreckage
musty
Stale from dampness
clammy · damp · soggy · mildewed · earthy · fusty · stale · fetid · airless · dew
decomposition
Breakdown into simpler parts
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
biodegradation · fermentation · spoilage · fester · putrescence · necrosis · deterioration · breakdown · disintegration · detritus
neglected
Not given proper attention
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- forsakenCompletely abandoned or discarded
- disusedNo longer in operation
dusty · cobwebbed · unremembered · overlooked · lost · relic · bygone · antiquated · faded · yellowed
dilapidated
Ruined through neglect
- decrepitWorn by age
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
- tumbledownRuined through neglect
disrepair · collapsing · weathered · eroded · fragmenting · ramshackle · ruins · rubble · wreckage · battered
- decayrot, decay rate, wilt, crumble, decomposition
- Deteriorationdecay, rot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion
- spoiledrotten, rotted, spoiled, spoiling, decayed
- chemical breakdowndecomposition, hydrolysis, pyrolysis, combustion, photolysis
- breaking downsplitting, fragmenting, dividing, breaking up, partitioning
molderingfresh
Newly made, not stale
pristine · intact · preserved · unspoiled · uncorrupted
molderingpreserved
Kept from deterioration
conserved · maintained · fresh · embalmed · pickled
molderingthriving
Succeeding vigorously
flourishing · blooming · vibrant · growing · blossoming
mold, moldy, rotting, decaying, crumbling, molder, disintegrating, decomposing, molders