1
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
4
5

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 Gunsmoke that smells of rotten eggs wafts over the field. Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025 These can cause your poop to smell like rotten eggs.12 Food intolerances, like lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity can also cause smelly poop. Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 14 Apr. 2025 Then, the rotten cherry on top: my lightweight pack, overburdened with water and ill-equipped for the task, created a patch of chafe that eventually bloomed into an open wound. Shawnté Salabert, Outside Online, 28 Mar. 2025 What rotten fortune all around, the best college player in the country – and the coolest – being ousted not by an upset but by injury. Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
  • Rakshasa’s evil beast fits thematically with the park’s nearby 1976 Demon looping coaster.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
  • Evans gives an oversized comedic performance as the church’s charming but evil minister.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Castillo’s short novel is a giddy character study of an unpleasant young male type.
    Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 2 June 2025
  • To neutralize unpleasant smells, add a few pots of aromatic herbs, like rosemary and lavender.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no doubt that Lewis, abandoned as a baby by his parents, has done some horrible stuff.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2025
  • Given the horrible economic incentives that government regulation has created, the surprise is not that some patients experience mistreatment.
    John C. Goodman, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The product was released in 2023 to a poor reception, and discontinued before the company began winding down operations in February.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 24 May 2025
  • The original doesn’t go that deeply into it, but this poor girl was essentially forced to be a teen mom at this time in her life when all of her friends would be graduating high school and dating and thinking about their futures.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Researchers also noted the chatbot engaging in other potentially disturbing—though not necessarily immoral—behavior.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
  • Suggesting that being out of work is immoral, as opposed to the conditions that contribute to people’s ability to work and live, might be a more appropriate source of anxiety.
    Lauren Coulman, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Glorifying motherhood, meanwhile, in practical terms, may only make mothers’ daily lives worse.
    Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025
  • But, are seed oils worse than saturated animal fats?
    Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • One night the fish was very overcooked and covered with a terrible sauce.
    Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • Djokovic knew he’d be seeded to play one of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz in the quarters, and in the end landed Zverev, which isn’t a terrible outcome, but would leave him with a possible Sinner-Alcaraz double bill in the semifinals and final to lift the trophy.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • One possible option is a center or third lane with curbs that would require less land to be acquired and be cheaper.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • And even as the price tags continue to rise, there is an argument to be made that NWSL teams remain cheap.
    Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rotten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!