as in rotted
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Dissimilar Words
as in decay
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition
rotting vegetation on the bank of the river
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rotting
Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Sanchez said the ceiling tiles in the jail are rotting, and there are doors that don’t lock properly.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
As the maggots multiply, the wound becomes an open, rotting sore on the surface of the animal’s skin, sometimes attracting other fly species with the smell of rotting flesh.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The insect measures just two-tenths of an inch long and nests in damp leaf litter, rotting logs and mulch, making accidental contact far more likely than with more visible species like the fire ant.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Go through your fridge regularly to clean up spills and throw out rotting food.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
Overusing milk can create problems—excess residue can lead to sour, rotting organic matter that harms your plants and the soil.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026
My rotting greens won’t save anyone.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Those that smell are thermogenic, meaning their spadixes generate heat that radiates their tell-tale smell through the air, attracting insects that crave rotting meat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Verb
The team aimed to fashion a rotting meat smell to recreate this slightly unhygienic oral arrangement.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Sanchez said the ceiling tiles in the jail are rotting, and there are doors that don’t lock properly.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
As the maggots multiply, the wound becomes an open, rotting sore on the surface of the animal’s skin, sometimes attracting other fly species with the smell of rotting flesh.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The insect measures just two-tenths of an inch long and nests in damp leaf litter, rotting logs and mulch, making accidental contact far more likely than with more visible species like the fire ant.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Go through your fridge regularly to clean up spills and throw out rotting food.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
Overusing milk can create problems—excess residue can lead to sour, rotting organic matter that harms your plants and the soil.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026
My rotting greens won’t save anyone.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Those that smell are thermogenic, meaning their spadixes generate heat that radiates their tell-tale smell through the air, attracting insects that crave rotting meat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotting
Adjective
-
Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Only browse stuff on the laptop now, and my brain feels less rotted.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The authors attribute this to a high-pressure region that forms on the side facing the flight direction, which produces a larger decay in the birdie's velocity in the horizontal direction.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Beyond 24 to 36 hours, a broadening of the wind field and some increase in shear should cause gradual decay in the peak winds.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Many of these coupists capitalized on public discontent over deteriorating economies and security conditions to overthrow their predecessors.—
Kaitlyn Rabe,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
-
Project Jupiter has pledged $360 million for schools and local infrastructure, $50 million for an upgrade to the county’s deteriorating water utility, and $12 million annually to the county budget.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Officials warned that decomposing fish could create potential health hazards for visitors entering the area or attempting to fish.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
That’s different from most other types of maggots, which feed on decomposing flesh.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Food and drink Wilderness is known for serving polished but healthy modern bush fare that’s tasty and spoiling, but not overly rich.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Spoiling in broad daylight Netanyahu used these public spoiling tactics again and again during ceasefire negotiations.—
Boaz Atzili,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the grout is crumbling, cracked, or permanently discolored, replacing it may be the best solution.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
10 June 2026
-
In the background, in the doorway of a crumbling stone building, stands a tiny, faceless figure, her arms held neatly behind her back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Control pesky little black fungus gnats, which are attracted to the wet, decaying organic matter in the potting soil.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Dec. 2025
-
Much of old Baghdad has been left to rot, its modernist heritage decaying, its leafy suburbs disfigured and gentrified.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotting. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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