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rot

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of rot are decay, decompose, putrefy, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

Where would decay be a reasonable alternative to rot?

The words decay and rot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

When can decompose be used instead of rot?

The words decompose and rot can be used in similar contexts, but decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

When would putrefy be a good substitute for rot?

While in some cases nearly identical to rot, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

In what contexts can spoil take the place of rot?

While the synonyms spoil and rot are close in meaning, 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 rot
Noun
But the moral rot isn’t exclusive to Republicans. Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025 Turns out, LLMs get brain rot, too. Literary Hub, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
The research team revealed that plastination is a new method for managing moisture in wood by replacing water in the cellular structure with a silicone compound to create a durable, hydrophobic barrier that resists swelling, rotting, and cracking. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025 By centering Garfield, Makowsky, and director Matt Ross showcase a man committed to civil rights and determined to clean up the grit and rot within the government. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
Noun
  • The burger was never refrigerated and spent most of its life in cupboards, garbage bags and sheds.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Beijing — When Ho Puay-peng first visited Beijing’s Forbidden City in the late 1980s, the Singaporean architect saw many of the historic courtyards used for storage, filled with garbage, and occupied by danwei (government offices).
    Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Based on the level of decomposition, officials estimated she had been dumped from the overpass at least a month earlier, according to the release.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Before storing the bodies in the crawl space, Gacy used lime to hasten the bodies' decomposition.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Residents should also remain alert to rapidly changing forecasts, as conditions may deteriorate quickly.
    Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Grace appears dazed when others pick up on her ache, and takes a perverse pleasure in Jackson’s struggle to deal with her deteriorating mental health.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The decaying Avenger is one of a dozen wrecks in three very different underwater environments — the western Pacific Ocean off Saipan, Lake Huron, shared by Michigan and Ontario, and the Italian Mediterranean — investigated as part of the ambitious pilot project involving eDNA.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The place is decaying and strict, but Luna refuses to give in to its rules.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In a recording shared by his family, Dailey recounted driving his 2002 silver Dodge Dakota up the Swamp Lake Trail, reaching the top safely and stopping to snack on some jerky and a handful of nuts, ABC News reported.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The crew can now prepare ingredients like nuts, cakes, and fresh vegetables using the oven and other cooking tools.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • That quest comes to a screeching halt due to the 2008 recession, as Jackie scrambles to adjust to a new lifestyle while husband David struggles to keep his timeshare empire from crumbling.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, Chenoweth finds the humanity inside the caricature, capturing the contradictions that made Jackie a pop-culture fascination — her drive for success, her humor, and yes, even her delusion to keep believing in a fantasy when the walls around her are literally crumbling.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In contrast to polluting polyester, these fibers are biodegradable and will naturally decompose after disposal.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Leaves need oxygen to properly decompose, and leaves buried in landfills do not have access to any oxygen, according to the National Wildlife Federation.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Crucially, the eggs were fittingly fluffy, none of that rubbery nonsense that plague lesser burrito slingers.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
  • All’s Fair is girlboss nonsense.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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