as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the ghastly festering of the corpses abandoned on the battlefield
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rotting
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bleeding
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festering
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
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
Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
The sensational turn in the case fueled breathless news coverage as the public became hungry for any revelation about the brothers’ motives or the dark secrets that had been festering inside the Menendez family home.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
There have been problems festering — especially with a lackluster, inefficient offense.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Clearly, Borden’s been festering in the twisted mind of Ryan Murphy for a long time.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
But for many in the Jewish community the attack, which also left three people injured, was the culmination of something that had been festering for some time.
—Alex Holmes, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Now a Congressman, state officials, and families are demanding accountability and bringing legal actions, saying that Roblox has allowed its platform to become a festering hub for horrific child exploitation.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
As buyers remained wary of sky-high prices, unbudging mortgage rates and festering economic uncertainty, the typical home sold last month spent 43 days on the market—the longest span for any July since 2015—before buyer and seller closed a deal on it, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Cortez Masto’s clash with Booker during Police Week offered a rare public window into those festering strategic disputes.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
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
Without nerve sensation, the patients weren’t aware of festering ulcers and infections, which therefore went untreated until amputation was the only option.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
The sensational turn in the case fueled breathless news coverage as the public became hungry for any revelation about the brothers’ motives or the dark secrets that had been festering inside the Menendez family home.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
There have been problems festering — especially with a lackluster, inefficient offense.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Clearly, Borden’s been festering in the twisted mind of Ryan Murphy for a long time.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
But for many in the Jewish community the attack, which also left three people injured, was the culmination of something that had been festering for some time.
—Alex Holmes, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Now a Congressman, state officials, and families are demanding accountability and bringing legal actions, saying that Roblox has allowed its platform to become a festering hub for horrific child exploitation.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
As buyers remained wary of sky-high prices, unbudging mortgage rates and festering economic uncertainty, the typical home sold last month spent 43 days on the market—the longest span for any July since 2015—before buyer and seller closed a deal on it, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Cortez Masto’s clash with Booker during Police Week offered a rare public window into those festering strategic disputes.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festering
Noun
-
Before storing the bodies in the crawl space, Gacy used lime to hasten the bodies' decomposition.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
An anthology of first memories, a meditation on decomposition, spinning constellations—every stanza grapples with change on a private or galactic scale.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gutters provide easy access to your home, and clogs can create moisture that leads to rotting wood that termites like.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Amir’s work and relationship start to suffer as he becomes obsessed with his rotting leg.—
Erik Piepenburg,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The setting catches America at a point of transition between an era of middle-class prosperity and the economic decay that was on the horizon.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Some nuclei will be stable against decays, others will undergo one or more decays (radioactively) before producing a stable end-product.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Another legend explains how in the distant past, the nefarious Lake Nyos was formed from the decomposing body of a Kom chief whose people had been tricked and murdered by the Bamessi tribe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Thatch is made up of decomposing grass stems and roots on the soil surface.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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
Noun
-
If your orchid has visible signs of rot, pruning to remove diseased parts can be done at any time.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The posts from my friends and family are still there, but they are absorbed into the flow of brain rot and advertising.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dental crowns are caps placed over damaged or decaying teeth and can also serve as supports for dental bridges.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Never mind The Bear — meet the Boss, fighting the same demons and nagging feelings of self-doubt that would cause Carmy Berzatto to stoically nod in recognition.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Springer fought through multiple nagging injuries to drive in seven runs in the series.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festering. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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