putrid

adjective

pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd 

1

a

: being in a state of putrefaction : rotten

b

: of, relating to, or characteristic of putrefaction : foul

a putrid odor

2

a

: morally corrupt

b

: totally objectionable

putridity

pyü-ˈtri-də-tē 

noun

putridly

ˈpyü-trəd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• rotten

Choose the Right Synonym for putrid

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling.

malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

Examples of putrid in a Sentence

a putrid shade of green

the putrid remains of a dead raccoon on the side of the highway

Recent Examples on the Web

Miami’s play was so decisively putrid that the 33-8 loss to the Colts seemed almost a blessing because the game felt so much more lopsided than that. —Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025

The offense has been explosive against the putrid White Sox and Washington Nationals, but starting pitcher Carlos Rodón has been a key to the success as well. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Though Ruka did everything in his power to keep me happy, his blue merle border collie brain had an affinity for rolling in anything dead, decaying, or otherwise putrid. —The Editors, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025

The husband and wife owners of Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose were arrested after authorities found 190 decomposing bodies of adults, infants and fetuses, some stacked on top of each other, in October 2023 after neighbors reported a putrid smell coming from the building. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin putridus, from putrēre to be rotten, from puter, putris rotten; akin to Latin putēre to stink — more at foul entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

putrid

adjective

pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd 

1

a

: being in a state of putrefaction : rotten

putrid meat

b

: characteristic of putrefaction : foul

a putrid odor

2

: morally objectionable

Medical Definition

putrid

adjective

pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd 

1

: being in a state of putrefaction

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of putrefaction

a putrid odor