1. plural of decadency; the state or process of moral, cultural, or artistic decline; decay or deterioration
Usage: formal; often used in historical or cultural criticism
2. instances or examples of decadent behavior, art, or lifestyle; indulgence in luxury or excess
Usage: formal; often pejorative

Examples

• Historians debate the decadencies that led to the fall of the Roman Empire.
• The critic condemned the decadencies of late 19th-century aestheticism.
• Some view modern consumer culture as evidence of moral decadencies.
• The novel explores the decadencies of the aristocracy during the final years of the monarchy.
• Philosophers have long warned against the decadencies that accompany unchecked wealth.
• The exhibition showcased the artistic decadencies of the fin de siècle period.