Why is "decadent" used to describe good food?

Question

I have looked up the word decadent in several dictionaries and all define the word as "to be decaying or degrading." This doesn't sound too apetizing to me. Why is it used to describe good food then?

mlslide, i can understand "sinful" but I would never think "wow, this cake is festering"

Answer 1

It's soooo good it's bad.

Answer 2

Decadent Food

Answer 3

Hi,

For fun type "decadent food" into www.google.com and search the "images". You will get a visual definition to you answer. Read the following and I am sure you will be clear about this adjective.


Decadent behavior is that which is thought to be bad for one's health or that which is perhaps immoral. In other words a decadent person is perhaps one who overindulges in sex, alcohol, drugs, fat foods, sweet foods and really anything that if done too much is unhelathy. It means to self-indulge and food described as decadent is always food which is toooooo tasty!

The word "good: in your question does not equate to healthy. It is not healthy food but rather food that is unhealthy. And even though it is unhealthy or bad for you, you eat it anyway.

Really fat people who eat terrible amounts of sugar, fat, white flour and other unhealathy foods are acting decadently.

Although the word decadent means what you have found in your dictionary, it also mean #3 below from the Merriam Webster online dictionary at www.m-w.com

decadent
2 entries found for decadent.
To select an entry, click on it.
decadent[1,adjective]decadent[2,noun]

Main Entry: 1dec·a·dent
Pronunciation: 'de-k&-d&nt also di-'kA-
Function: adjective
Etymology: back-formation from decadence
1 : marked by decay or decline
2 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the decadents
3 : characterized by or appealing to self-indulgence
- dec·a·dent·ly adverb

Answer 4

It isn't necessarily used to described "good" food, but rather to describe food that is rich or loaded with calories or carbs or sugar or is somehow not really the best choice in food -- unhealthy. Decadent not only means decaying or degrading, but it also means marked by or providing unrestrained gratification; self-indulgent. So, if you choose to eat a double fudge brownie, a scoop of rich, fattening ice cream on it, topped with hot fudge, THAT could be called "decadent," because you're being very indulgent.

Answer 5

RE:
Why is "decadent" used to describe good food?
I have looked up the word decadent in several dictionaries and all define the word as "to be decaying or degrading." This doesn't sound too apetizing to me. Why is it used to describe good food then?

Answer 6

Define Decadence

Answer 7

I think it's more 'tongue in cheek' that the person eating it runs the risk of being decadent as it is 'too good a luxury' or way beyond most people's ordinary means. You will likely 'get soft' as it will allure you from your usual routine into the realm of fantasy, so you won't want to come back to 'real' life. I guess it goes with the term 'spoilt rotten', but actually too much proper loved never spoiled anyone, except jealous outsiders perhaps. So I guess it is an advertising ploy to make you feel more than you are.

Answer 8

I didn't know that was the literal meaning of "decadent". I guess we use the word that way because good food is rich and luxurious and somewhat sinful and we aren't supposed to eat too much of it or enjoy too much of it. It seems to be a bit of a play on words.

Answer 9

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is "decadent" used to describe good food?
I have looked up the word decadent in several dictionaries and all define the word as "to be decaying or degrading." This doesn't sound too apetizing to me. Why is it used to describe good food then?

Answer 10

I looked it up in Websters and you're right about decaying or degrading condition... Also a definition is

"3 : characterized by or appealing to self-indulgence
- dec·a·dent·ly adverb" This is the definition that you're refering to... I never thought of that word in the decaying or deterioting sense... The marketing people have conformed my thinking to the way they want it to be.

Answer 11

Yes, I agree that it means you feel like you're doing something sinful or "degraded" when you eat the food.