decadent
Say it: DEK-uh-dunt /ˈdɛkədənt/ · adjective
What “decadent” means
Luxurious and full of pleasure or rich treats.
More precisely: Luxuriously self-indulgent; also, in moral or cultural decline.
Example: “We shared a decadent chocolate cake that could have fed six people.”
When to use it
Use it playfully or approvingly for wonderfully rich food or lavish treats that feel more indulgent than you need.
Similar words
indulgent, luxurious, rich
Where it comes from
From French décadent, ultimately from Latin cadere, "to fall."
Quick check
Your hotel serves breakfast in bed with buttery pastries, truffles and cream piled onto a silver tray. How does it feel?
modest or decadent?
Show the answer
decadent
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “decadent”