SENESCENCE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

senescence

noun

Definition of senescence

as in senility

technical + formal the state of being old or the process of becoming old premature senescence

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of senescence The Aquarium announced Ghost’s senescence online in September. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Ghost had laid eggs and entered the final stage of her life cycle, called senescence, back in September and died a natural death on Tuesday, aquarium staff said. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 Sinclair’s work on senescence intersects with new therapeutic directions in oncology, from CAR-T failures linked to T-cell exhaustion to the growing interest in senolytic adjuvants. — Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026 Or, the first generation simply declined from senescence and the debilitating effects of power long exercised without check. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for senescence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for senescence

Noun

Trump has boosted a conspiracy theory that Biden’s administration used the autopen without his knowledge to cover up his alleged senility.

— Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Then the interview happens, and Thomas is swinging between lucidity and senility, and a million things about their relationship come up, and the fiction records the interview the phone couldn’t capture.

— Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

Definition of senility

Noun

Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images Two former Golden State Warriors employees have sued the NBA franchise, alleging gender, age and race-based discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation tied to their terminations.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
In fact, a recent survey of more than 2,000 women ages 40-64 conducted by Bonafide Health found that problems snoozing was one of the most unsettling symptoms of perimenopause — ranking ahead of hot flashes.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of age

Noun

Over time, however, the construct of critical thinking has expanded to encompass personal development, emotional reflection, and dispositional traits such as inquisitiveness, self-confidence, and maturity.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Her coach at the academy, Daniel Gomez, told me that he was immediately struck by the maturity of her game.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of maturity

Browse Nearby Words

senectitude

senescence

senescent

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“Senescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senescence. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of senescence

noun

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