1
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
I won't stand here and listen to such rot
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the rot begins shortly after the fish are killed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decay
to go through decomposition
rotting vegetation on the bank of the river
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rot
Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Jade plants are sensitive to too much humidity, and an overly humid environment increases the chances of rot.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025
New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Separating bananas will ensure one bad fruit in the bunch doesn't cause the others to rot prematurely.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Noun
But the rot may have spread too far.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Jade plants are sensitive to too much humidity, and an overly humid environment increases the chances of rot.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025
Verb
Bacterial plant diseases include speck (a winter-surviving infection that attacks tomatoes), canker (which damages fruit trees including those producing apples and peaches), and blight (which rots melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and more).
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Separating bananas will ensure one bad fruit in the bunch doesn't cause the others to rot prematurely.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
Noun
-
Installed on the former garbage dump bounded by Sunset, Lewis, Western and Glen Flora avenues, there are now 20,000 solar panels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Rescuers retrieved eight people alive and were searching for the missing still trapped after a huge mound of garbage and debris collapsed on them in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city, police said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The house smelled of urine, feces and decomposition.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
21 Jan. 2026
-
If the stump is in a low-traffic area and won't interfere with lawn mowing, the easiest removal method is natural decomposition.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By that measure, expect the roads to deteriorate Sunday late afternoon and become snow-covered shortly after dark.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The relationship further deteriorated after Buss reportedly felt that James wasn’t appreciative of the team’s efforts to bring his son, Bronny, on board, according to the report.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In essence, this would mean that alpha particles (helium nuclei) released by decaying uranium (or some other fissile material) would be focused through engine nozzles to generate thrust.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The next slide showed a mouthwatering array of meats, cheeses, crudite and nuts set for snacking on, along with bottles of Haack's champagne line, Clé Cachée, chilling behind an array of glasses.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and chocolate are more prone to oxidation, which can lead to rancid flavors or a gritty texture.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That criticism scene is where the Knausgaard/Kristian simulacrum begins to crumble.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
And behind every man with a good name and a crumbling pile, there’s a wife shrewdly attending to the seating plan.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That rule is nonsense — especially with two applicants who pretty clearly spend most of their time in Tallahassee, and two who work in Lakeland.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But the residency rule is nonsense.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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