ROTTEN Synonyms: 393 Similar and Opposite Words

rotten

adjective

ˈrä-tᵊn

Definition of rotten

as in spoiled

having undergone organic breakdown rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in evil

not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable played a rotten trick and then lied about it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unpleasant

not giving pleasure to the mind or senses had a rotten time while on vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in poor

of low quality I can't do anything with these rotten tools

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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 rotten If the produce’s skin is moldy, slimy, or rotten, it should be discarded regardless of type, as mold can penetrate beyond the visible surface. — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026 John Mozeliak — the interim general manager charged with repairing the rotten organization — did not take responsibility. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Even plants get in on the mimicry fun, with some mimicking the small of rotten meat to attract flies and others using their petals to trick flies into pollinating on them. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026 Its rotten fruits are evident in the current affordability crisis, weaponization of government against personal enemies, and an unwinnable conflict in Iran. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rotten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten

Adjective

Nearly six million people cast a blank or spoiled vote — including Alexandre Moreira, a 21-year-old university student.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
The discrepancy in air time is a pain point West Coast viewers who are easily spoiled on social media about how couples fared.

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of spoiled

Adjective

Declonius Peck, its beloved editor-in-chief, has gone to prison for embezzlement, and his evil twin, Salton, has assumed management of the family business, along with the 39 editors who curate the periodical.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
The film focuses on Merry, the first witch born on Christmas Day, who must defeat a coven of evil witches that has kidnapped Santa Claus in a bid to destroy Christmas.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of evil

Adjective

As unpleasant as his job might be at the moment, Harbaugh is ostensibly safe.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
The Kings and Avalanche aren’t really rivals in the way Dallas and Colorado are, but there’s definitely some unpleasant familiarity after a playoff series last year.

— Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

And then none of it mattered because his special teams bailed him out with a big kick return (thanks to a terrible decision by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to even allow a kick return in the first place) followed by a walk-off field goal.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
The story follows the transformation of Adriana (Colin), a woman shattered by a terrible murder and who discovers the strength to start over, driven by an unquenchable thirst for justice.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial premiered at New York Film Festival last night and left many people wondering, Just how funny can a movie about both the terrible capacity of generative AI and the immoral people in charge of it be?

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of immoral

Adjective

But then came the nightmare of Game 3, one of the Sox’s worst performances in weeks.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Specifically, people with worse fever tended to have more of a protein called flagellin in their systems than those with little to no fever.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bad

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rotted

rotten

rottenly

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Style

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rotten

adjective

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