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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rotting
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
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
The flies are attracted to rotting, unkept wounds.
—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
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
Liquids, food residue, and rotting produce can be a magnet for fruit flies.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
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
The flies are attracted to rotting, unkept wounds.
—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
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
-
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
Noun
-
The decay rate will increase as the spacecraft dips into denser layers of the atmosphere until Swift finally burns up during reentry.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 June 2026
-
The Dirty Beaches founder’s own saxophone and trumpet lead the players’ cut-and-pasted recordings down dark alleys of decay and introspection, backdropped by percussive bangs and scrapes that suggest the construction of some great, mysterious superstructure.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
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 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
Noun
-
The video marked the crumbling of his alibi, legal experts told CNN at the time.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Winter storms left its gazebo teetering, 50 feet of asphalt crumbling, and a dramatic 6 foot drop down to the sand.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This affordability crisis disproportionately impacts Black women, with 90% reporting worsening economic conditions and incomes not keeping pace.—
Aisha Nyandoro,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Lower inventory leads to fewer sales, worsening their standing with automakers.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
-
The damage from our disintegrating democracy demands attention — and now.—
Elizabeth Keifer,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotting. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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