rotted 1 of 2

rotted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rot

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 rotted
Adjective
Inspect fences and perform any repairs or maintenance, such as reinforcing posts or replacing rotted sections. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
The missing 14-year-old’s body rotted for weeks until it was found in the trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard last September, severed at the limbs and stuffed into black plastic bags, according to medical examiner’s records and court filings. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 While the timber has long since rotted away, the posts lined up to point directly at the rising sun during the summer solstice and the setting sun at the winter solstice — in the same way as Stonehenge. Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 18 June 2026 The storm hit Jamaica on August 12, splintering three hundred homes, and 90 percent of banana crops rotted to black in the post-storm humidity. Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Now the pages are yellowed; the rubber band rotted away years ago. Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 31 May 2026 That last line is a nod for the brain-rotted among us. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026 Conley could’ve rotted away in Chicago. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026 The root system is completely rotted out of it, so winds, rain and anything can push that right over. Joe Holden, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026 How to Plant Bare Root Roses Carefully inspect the roots and cut off any that are broken, cracked, rotted, or show signs of insect damage. Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotted
Adjective
  • Discard any that look dead or decayed.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
    Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The leggings were still wet, heavily soiled, and badly deteriorated, LaHendro testified, making the edge detail too unreliable for comparison.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
  • Oil prices have surged more than 30% in July with Brent crude breaking $100 per barrel on Thursday for the first time since May, as the security situation has rapidly deteriorated in the southern Red Sea and Hormuz.
    Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • The body had decomposed and had already undergone one autopsy, which meant that the organs including the lungs and the neck structures were already removed.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • Riverside County sheriff's investigators recovered the remains the following day near Highway 74, but the body had decomposed so extensively that authorities were unable to determine who the victim was despite extensive investigative efforts.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • The rotten culture that is seeping ever deeper into football was exemplified by the announcement that one of the game’s most successful referees had retired.
    Graham Scott, New York Times, 23 July 2026
  • Eventually, the plant can’t absorb enough water through its rotten roots to survive.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • Inspired by the bright, herb-forward flavors of traditional Middle Eastern tabbouleh, this hearty variation replaces bulgur with fluffy couscous and adds roasted eggplant and crumbled feta for extra substance and depth.
    Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • Let’s remember that Justin Herbert received early MVP buzz last year before his offensive line crumbled.
    Andy Behrens, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Flights in early 2025, though, ended in a series of failures including two in which the Starship upper stage disintegrated in a fiery cascade of debris across the skies visible from Florida and the Caribbean.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026
  • In the two-thousands, after the State disintegrated, Wain and two other members, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black, formed the trio Stella, which helped define New York’s downtown alt-comedy scene.
    Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • 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
Verb
  • While pilgrims ascended the mountain, Mayo supporters descended en masse on Dublin for the final at Croke Park, splashing the county’s colours across the capital.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • That’s why, a day before the smoke plumes descended, Saxon was using zip ties to fasten an air quality sensor to the railing of a house in McKinley Park, the latest of 15 or so installations she’s done over the past few years.
    Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rotted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotted. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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