Synonym Chooser

How is the word putrefy different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of putrefy are decay, decompose, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

When might decay be a better fit than putrefy?

In some situations, the words decay and putrefy are roughly equivalent. However, decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

When would decompose be a good substitute for putrefy?

Although the words decompose and putrefy have much in common, decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

How do rot and decompose relate to one another, in the sense of putrefy?

Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

Where would spoil be a reasonable alternative to putrefy?

The meanings of spoil and putrefy largely overlap; however, spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

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 putrefy Because lose-lose situations are so endemic to the genre, a hint of relief can sometimes accompany the prospect of surrender to the putrefying mob. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025 Fast-forward to now, and the scene has putrefied into a wasteland of the percussive undead. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025 But those explicit depictions underscore the many points McCartney and McLennan are trying to make about how misogyny putrefies society. Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024 It was designed to hold 20 bodies but on this day held 28 — the putrefied remains testifying to two dozen shattered dreams of reaching the United States. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Mules killed in the assault putrefied and attracted swarms of maggots. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Just as fruit and meats left untouched began to rot and putrefy, dregs and undigested material inside the body turned poisonous if not expelled. Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 Just as fruit and meats left untouched began to rot and putrefy, so did dregs and undigested material inside the body turn poisonous if not expelled. Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putrefy
Verb
  • These clippings decompose rapidly, enhancing soil quality and providing nutrients for your turf grass.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Water molecules in the electrolyte tend to decompose, and zinc deposits unevenly, forming dendrites that can cause short circuits.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In most parts of the country, tender summer bulbs will either freeze or rot in the ground during winter.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Garbage, rotting food with bugs and clothing stacked close to the ceiling were also seen in most areas of the house.
    Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The new specimen is highly significant because its near-perfect state preserved the soft tissues, which usually decay over time.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When breaking down what the heck happened over the last four months, the first item on the list is the way New York’s starting rotation disintegrated.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Her life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of The Worrall Family.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Putrefy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putrefy. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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