as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the ghastly festering of the corpses abandoned on the battlefield
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bleeding
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as in rotting
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
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Recent Examples of festering
Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The far better response would be for the Nigerian authorities — both state and federal — to tackle the festering conditions that have created the insecurity.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
And nearly omnipresent throughout is the soundtrack by Daniel Blumberg, who brought the rhythms of industrialization and its festering underbelly to 2024’s The Brutalist and won an Oscar for it.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
There’s always been a festering envy for many years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
Either there will be sunlight or a scandal that keeps festering.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Instead, what has become a festering problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder came up yet again.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Is corruption festering in the apparently homogeneous suburb?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2025
Adding to the festering sense of uncertainty about the enterprise is the principal characters’ embrace of the supernatural.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
For the moment at least, embassies remain open in both capitals despite a festering but unrelated diplomatic spat that has seen the two sides expel dozens of diplomats since 2017.
—chicagotribune.com, 3 Mar. 2022
CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
That’ll leave an already tense relationship festering through the end of the season as both sides are left to reckon with a true fall from grace.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Not helping matters are festering rivalries within the opposition.
—John Otis, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Whatever, exactly, is festering between Cannon, her mom, and Gung Gung goes largely unsaid.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
This has been a festering issue not only for the industry but also for consumers.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The far better response would be for the Nigerian authorities — both state and federal — to tackle the festering conditions that have created the insecurity.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
And nearly omnipresent throughout is the soundtrack by Daniel Blumberg, who brought the rhythms of industrialization and its festering underbelly to 2024’s The Brutalist and won an Oscar for it.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
There’s always been a festering envy for many years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
Either there will be sunlight or a scandal that keeps festering.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Instead, what has become a festering problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder came up yet again.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Is corruption festering in the apparently homogeneous suburb?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In the Flesh, Sherman rips off the straitjacket after four seasons (and counting) on Saturday Night Live, unleashing a festering and hilarious hour of bodily fluids, open-wound confessionals, and jokes that will leave scars on your soul.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2025
Adding to the festering sense of uncertainty about the enterprise is the principal characters’ embrace of the supernatural.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
For the moment at least, embassies remain open in both capitals despite a festering but unrelated diplomatic spat that has seen the two sides expel dozens of diplomats since 2017.
—chicagotribune.com, 3 Mar. 2022
Verb
The long-festering malaise erupted into street demonstrations last September, triggered by a social media ban, that brought thousands onto the streets, leading to clashes and fatalities that forced the resignation of Oli.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
That’ll leave an already tense relationship festering through the end of the season as both sides are left to reckon with a true fall from grace.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Not helping matters are festering rivalries within the opposition.
—John Otis, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Whatever, exactly, is festering between Cannon, her mom, and Gung Gung goes largely unsaid.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festering
Noun
-
In addition, warmer water temperatures and the decomposition of organic material can promote bacterial growth.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But when it’s placed in a landfill, its decomposition emits significant greenhouse gases.—
Ahmed Ibrahim Yunus,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In tests using mice, after surgical damage to the liver, AGCL was able to perform significantly better than other current anti-bleeding agents, with normal liver function returning just two weeks after its application.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2026
-
These injuries resulted in 684 days lost per 1,000 training hours during menstruation, compared to 206 days lost during non-bleeding days.—
Ciara Lucas,
SELF,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Massive piles of trash with rotting food accumulate in residential areas as the fuel shortage has crippled waste collection services.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When Corms Don't Sprout If your corms haven’t sprouted after two weeks, there could be several reasons for this, such as rotting due to overwatering, insufficient warmth and humidity, or the corms being too dry.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many cracked and leaked from decades of decay, letting rain in and worsening backups that surge through maintenance hole covers, drain into city rivers and flow into basements.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That debt has been settled in full by five decades of theocratic brutality and economic decay.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Detectives said the victim’s body had already begun decomposing.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Possible diseases include powdery mildew, blight, crown rot, leaf gall, root rot, leaf spot, and rust.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The filmmakers and inmates carried out this investigation in secret, through anonymous phone calls and surreptitious recordings, ultimately revealing systemic rot inside a sadistic prison system.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Haunted by a nagging suspicion that something isn’t adding up in regards to his cousin Ben’s death.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Wednesday’s rematch at Parc des Princes in the Champions League round of 16 provides a chance for both teams to answer some nagging questions.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festering. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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