as in rotted
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 festered
Then the bad luck and the bad blood festered.
—
Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Left unresolved, the conflict has festered and now metastasized into one of the largest, longest-running, and most complex armed conflicts in the world.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Unlike the first company, which thrived on directness and discipline, this organization operated in a space of cordial hypocrisy, where conflict was avoided at all costs and resentment festered.
—Margaret Graziano, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Given our generally non-interventionist views on foreign policy and concerns about public spending, this editorial board does not mind rethinking the United States’ role in the Ukraine war, which has festered for three years.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2025
These are problems that have festered for decades, and no one expects a quick turnaround, but after all of the promises and all the money invested, people are tired of waiting for clear signs of progress.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
The issue has long festered and has the potential to collapse the government.
—Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2024
Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Left unresolved, the conflict has festered and now metastasized into one of the largest, longest-running, and most complex armed conflicts in the world.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Unlike the first company, which thrived on directness and discipline, this organization operated in a space of cordial hypocrisy, where conflict was avoided at all costs and resentment festered.
—Margaret Graziano, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Given our generally non-interventionist views on foreign policy and concerns about public spending, this editorial board does not mind rethinking the United States’ role in the Ukraine war, which has festered for three years.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2025
These are problems that have festered for decades, and no one expects a quick turnaround, but after all of the promises and all the money invested, people are tired of waiting for clear signs of progress.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
The issue has long festered and has the potential to collapse the government.
—Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festered
Verb
-
When a small job of filling in a hole that a pet has dug or where a root has rotted, homeowners can easily handle this type of job themselves.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The wooden floor has rotted through, and only a few flimsy stairs remain attached to telephone poles, which once propped up the tower.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two people discovered badly decomposed human remains while doing a walkthrough of a home for sale in Ohio, police told news outlets.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Their remains were either so badly decomposed to be identified, or perhaps their dog tags were missing.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, the vehicle disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts on board.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
These plans disintegrated in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Iran’s model decayed even in places where Israel and the United States had not attacked for some time.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Within the next 18 days, the new short July 25 90/115 strangle would be worth only 46 cents, also having decayed by more than 80% of the value when the trade was initiated, at which point a trader could have rolled the short strangle yet again.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festered. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share