1
as in spoiled
having undergone organic breakdown
rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
played a rotten trick and then lied about it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had a rotten time while on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality
I can't do anything with these rotten tools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rotten
Try to get a look below the surface—if anything is broken, damaged, rotten, or desiccated, a simple trim could help.
—
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Repairs to the balcony included removing and replacing rotten support beams, according to an invoice from Ameridian.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
In the 19th century, scientists initially thought Prototaxites was the rotten trunk of a conifer.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
In this topsy-turvy world, Erdoğan was the revolutionary, and the representatives of leftist institutions and unions were the rotten elites.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Repairs to the balcony included removing and replacing rotten support beams, according to an invoice from Ameridian.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
In the 19th century, scientists initially thought Prototaxites was the rotten trunk of a conifer.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
In this topsy-turvy world, Erdoğan was the revolutionary, and the representatives of leftist institutions and unions were the rotten elites.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
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Melling’s scenes all took place in the objectively less exciting muggle universe, occurring along a fairly straightforward arc from spoiled bully to remorseful young adult.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
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Violations included spoiled ice cream, expired tacos, warm dairy drinks and plumbing issues.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Newcomers to the popular franchise are Greta Lee as the evil Lilypad game tablet and Conan O'Brien playing a hilarious potty training toy called Smarty Pants.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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By washing white rice, the excess starch is washed off, as well as any oxidized rice bran oil coating the outside, which can add an unpleasant flavor to the cooked rice.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The move was expected because Hill, who played for the Chiefs from 2016-‘21 before being traded to the Dolphins, is recovering from a terrible knee injury.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, the storm will provide another test for the Wu administration, which was criticized for its poor snow removal results following last month’s nor’easter.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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The district’s poor spending practices and a broken culture long precede Allen’s leadership, according trustees and other parties.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some are sandy; others are rich in organic matter formed from centuries of decayed plants.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
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Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gay and transgender people are immoral.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
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Cooperation feels not only impossible, but immoral.—
Joe Palaggi,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The dragon is said to scare away bad spirits and bring good luck.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Weapon system autonomously detects and classifies moving targets The company revealed that the weapon system autonomously detects and classifies moving targets in poor visibility situations caused by darkness, bad weather, smoke or dust kicked up by helicopters.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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