putrefying 1 of 2

adjective

as in rotting

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putrefying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of putrefy
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition we traced the bad smell to a dead skunk putrefying under the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 putrefying
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putrefying
  1. putrescent
  2. decomposing
  3. decaying
  4. rotting
  5. moldy
  6. disintegrating
  7. corroded
Adjective
  • This putrescent combination of sky-high home prices, rising mortgage rates and stifling consumer inflation have forced all but the wealthiest or most determined buyers out of a new home.
    — Q.ai - Powering a Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022
Definition of putrescent
Verb
  • But the last inspection was in October, 10 months before dozens of decomposing bodies were found at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home.
    — Megan De Mar, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And just over a year after that, the Morgans landed back in the news after authorities found 56 decomposing corpses inside another one of their businesses, South Deering’s South Chicago Chapel.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
    — Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Definition of decaying
Verb
  • Then came the cleanup of the rotting food, which included two freezers.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Tomatoes that have gone bad are typically soft or mushy, possibly with a rotting smell.
    — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotting
Adjective
  • The inspector found a moldy Serrano pepper, raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food and several foods stored at an unsafe temperature.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That might mean advocacy to address a moldy home, access to safe green spaces, or trusted local advice in times of crisis.
    — Kyle Vanelli, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of moldy
Verb
  • Teams must build enough psychological trust to disagree without disintegrating.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Others rot in the California sun, disintegrating into bony fragments.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of disintegrating
Adjective
  • There could be a leak, clogged or corroded pipes, or a problem with your home’s water pressure.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Watch this video for a step-by-step tutorial on how to clean corroded battery terminals.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of corroded

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putrefying
putrescence
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Cite this Entry

“Putrefying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putrefying. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on putrefying

Nglish: Translation of putrefying for Spanish Speakers

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