1
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
I won't stand here and listen to such rot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the rot begins shortly after the fish are killed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decay
to go through decomposition
rotting vegetation on the bank of the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rot
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
When buying, look for green cucumbers that are firm and free of soft spots, which indicate rot.
—
Susan Hall Mahon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Make sure to keep mulch at least 6 inches away from tree trunks to reduce pest and rot issues.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Noun
Under the guidance of Belgian coach Hugo Broos, South Africa finished third at AFCON 2023 before topping Nigeria in World Cup qualifying to stop the rot of absences and stamp its ticket to the US, Mexico and Canada.
—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
When buying, look for green cucumbers that are firm and free of soft spots, which indicate rot.
—
Susan Hall Mahon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Verb
The storm hit Jamaica on August 12, splintering three hundred homes, and 90 percent of banana crops rotted to black in the post-storm humidity.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Make sure to keep mulch at least 6 inches away from tree trunks to reduce pest and rot issues.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
Noun
-
Take Out the Trash Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes.
-
In her own yard, Mingrone has learned that cracked lids on garbage containers allow water to pool after a rain, setting up a major breeding ground.
Noun
-
Frequent mowing keeps clippings small, preventing smothering and speeds up decomposition for reuse.
-
As with all animals, when a whale dies, bacteria begin the process of decomposition.
Verb
-
For the decades after the historic Old Soldiers’ Home was shut down in the 1970s, the two-thirds of the campus north of Wilshire Boulevard remained a collection of vacant deteriorating buildings and residential programs for physical and mental health recovery.
-
However, the strategy itself has been flawed, often prioritizing roads in excellent condition while allowing moderately deteriorating streets to fail completely.
Verb
-
Amy Turner LaDow, of Valparaiso, is a sixth-generation carrier of Huntington’s Disease, a condition that causes nerve cells in the brain to decay, according to the Mayo Clinic.
-
On the shore of a nondescript, decaying seaside town, a boat that went missing 30 years ago suddenly reappears.
Noun
-
Her lab has found even modest additions to the diet — a handful of nuts or an avocado — can enrich certain beneficial bacteria over the course of a few weeks.
-
Including foods like avocado, olive oil, nuts, or seeds can make your meal more satisfying and may also stimulate digestion.
Verb
-
Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
-
All of this was a source of ongoing friction; and the glue that held the USSR together, military might and communist ideology, had been crumbling for some time.
Verb
-
How long does cardboard take to decompose in the garden?
-
This sets them apart from other natural mulches like straw and wood chips, which have a high carbon content and take a year or more to decompose fully.
Noun
-
Not only is that nonsense, but Israel took this into account.
-
Get outta here with that nonsense.
Cite this Entry
“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
