Definition of "decadence" []

• A process, condition, or period of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art; decay. (noun)
• A literary movement especially of late 19th-century France and England characterized by refined aestheticism, artifice, and the quest for new sensations. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Although I am loathe to use the word, the term decadence comes to mind."
• "On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation."
• "In a post-Apocalyptic world where supernaturals have emerged from hiding, wealthy humans delight in decadence while the religious gain power through temptation."