festering 1 of 3

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

festering

2 of 3

adjective

festering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of fester

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 festering
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festering
Verb
  • Then came the yacht’s renaissance by her father, who saw beauty and sailing prowess inside a rotting hull.
    Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Rotting Flesh and the Skeleton Underneath Eggers wanted the audience almost to smell the rotting flesh when the sarcophagus is flipped open.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The structure’s decay was captured in numerous photos, and demolition seemed imminent when the decision was made to rebuild it in conjunction with the new Power & Light District.
    Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
  • The American manufacturing sector is reviving after decades of decay.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Equal to Tesfaye’s navel-gazing, Shults uses every trick in the music-video playbook to conjure a vivid, ultra-saturated but not quite realistic universe where the Weeknd is a brightly burning sun everyone revolves around.
    Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 May 2025
  • Ben Johnson has a ‘burning desire’ to be a head coach.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The anticipation of a world grown stale, the rot of what America had left behind ever ready to encroach, was of a piece with the puritan hunger for utopia.
    Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Not Fun For Everyone But for all its creative energy, the Italian brain rot meme has its critics.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • The more recognizable symptoms of COPD range from a nagging cough, chronic mucus production, fatigue, or breathlessness.
    Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 13 May 2025
  • Another tough outing has some wondering if the arm sleeve is thinly concealing a nagging injury.
    Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Is dark matter decaying, or is something decaying into dark matter?
    Big Think, Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025
  • What fill out the episodes instead are extended zombie-battle scenes and long, silent sequences where people explore gorgeously decaying spaces.
    Judy Berman, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Hoss — who’s sensual and full of sad, smiling bewilderment without ever disintegrating into ditziness — makes a mature, deeply poignant Ranevskaya.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Marvel at the firework display of disintegrating foes; revel in your might as a pair of badass demon slayers.
    Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The direct cost of the tariffs on aerospace is estimated to be as high as $5 Billion, but the real cost is far more pernicious.
    Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Many scandals arise from the occasion of these activities, and adulteries and other outrageous crimes are committed as a clear offence to God, a very serious danger to the souls of those committing them, and a pernicious example to others.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Festering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festering. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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