rot 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rotnext
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

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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

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rot

2 of 2

verb

ˈrät How to pronounce rot (audio)
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted

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2
as in to decay
to go through decomposition rotting vegetation on the bank of the river

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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
Just remove the moldy ones and check the surrounding berries for rot. — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 That stopped the rot of five consecutive defeats. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Verb
Elevation blocks rodents, prevents rot and gives you sweeping access underneath. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026 The old deck was rotting and had trees growing up through it. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
  1. garbage
  2. decomposition
  3. deteriorate
  4. decay
  5. nuts
  6. crumble
  7. decompose
  8. nonsense
Noun
  • Instead, rival parties united in dismissing his actions as a stunt, leaving his only opponent to be a garbage-can wearing comedian whose policies include forcing rule-breaking cyclists to ride unicycles.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • Using a plastic bag to collect the soil and disposing of it in the garbage — not green yard waste bins — will help to reduce the spread of airborne chemicals.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • Maintain Compost Bins Compost piles need to be kept damp in order to accelerate organic decomposition.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
  • Authorities also found numerous dead animals in advanced stages of decomposition, including hundreds of chickens that investigators said had been discarded in bags and fed to the dogs, according to The Straits Times and The Standard.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of decomposition
Verb
  • They can also be used for de-aging characters, creating performances in different languages, or preserving the voice or likeness of an actor whose health is deteriorating, as was the case with CAA client Eric Dane.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
  • Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveway repair is needed when the surface deteriorates and develops cracks over the years.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • Leave some messiness in your garden and leave the leaves, as decaying leaves are great habitat for fireflies.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Granola One of the original ‘health foods,’ granola contains many nutritious ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and seeds.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 July 2026
  • California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of nuts
Verb
  • Throughout the album, mary in the junkyard shift constantly, moving from crumbling atmospheric experiments to cloudy Pacific Northwest indie rock to the kind of straightforward classical guitar poems of Leonard Cohen’s early albums.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 2026
  • An islandwide blackout plunged Cuba’s nearly 10 million residents into darkness Monday, exposing a crumbling power grid and dwindling fuel reserves as officials raced to restore electricity.
    — Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • The Yolo County Central Landfill will build a new system that will convert methane from decomposing waste into renewable natural gas, the county announced Tuesday.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
  • The ocean becomes a creamy expanse splotched with brown mats of decomposing algae, according to photos shared by Abrams.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • There weren’t meetings with executives about tone and mood and all this nonsense.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of nonsense

Browse Nearby Words

rosy
rot
rotaries
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Cite this Entry

“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rot

Nglish: Translation of rot for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rot

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