rotting 1 of 3

adjective

as in rotted

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rotting

2 of 3

noun

as in decay

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rotting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rot
1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted

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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

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 rotting
Verb
Its paint was peeling, clapboards were rotting, and a tarp covered a leaking roof, according to the Times. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Those ailing leaves can be a sign of deeper problems such as rotting roots or a bug infestation, though sometimes, a yellowing leaf is just part of a monstera’s natural aging process. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026 If the wood that’s exposed after the bark sheds is rotting or infested with pests, the tree may not be in good health. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 Then came the cleanup of the rotting food, which included two freezers. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 After the smoke subsided, residents reported feeling effects from the stench of rotting meat and food from the warehouse interior, where it had been stored frozen on tall racks that were hundreds of feet across. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Cleanup efforts, meanwhile, were continuing at the Lineage Logistics food-storage warehouse following the massive June 17 fire, with the stench of rotting food and pest problems disrupting the surrounding neighborhood, according to reports. — City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 Los Angeles residents of Boyle Heights are still living with the aftermath of a massive June 17 warehouse fire, as the stench of rotting food and ongoing pest problems continue to disrupt the neighborhood, according to reports. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Nothing puts a damper on a beach vacation like piles of brown seaweed rotting on what should be a beautiful sandy shoreline. — Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotting
  1. rotted
  2. decay
  3. deteriorating
  4. decomposing
  5. decaying
  6. crumbling
  7. worsening
  8. disintegrating
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
Definition of rotted
Noun
  • In a total power blackout, the plant removes residual decay heat through natural convection rather than emergency electrical pumps or operator intervention.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Waytowich said crime is a symptom of much deeper problems on the north side of Jacksonville, from neighborhood decay to generational trauma and lack of job opportunities.
    — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • Venezuela's industry has suffered from decades of underinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure and the loss of technical expertise.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The woods surrounding the cottage also needed work to remove trash, deteriorating hunting structures and invasive species, the letter said.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • But the last inspection was in October, 10 months before dozens of decomposing bodies were found at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home.
    — Megan De Mar, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And just over a year after that, the Morgans landed back in the news after authorities found 56 decomposing corpses inside another one of their businesses, South Deering’s South Chicago Chapel.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of decaying
Noun
  • The rest of the world is watching the crumbling of America’s economic relationship with its closest trading partner, and an administration that is calling into question the sanctity of free trade agreements generally.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Biting into it feels tectonic, cracking and flaking and crumbling, the gravity of umami keeping it all together.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • Once a rare occurrence, the ominous signal is becoming a more regular event thanks to the worsening climate crisis.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Residents accused the maps of worsening the insurance crisis and tanking property values.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • With all the rain from storms recently, our streets and roads are disintegrating faster.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In just four years, Keegan had spurred a disintegrating club into a united entity known for its energy and style, cherished as the ‘Entertainers’.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of disintegrating

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rotters
rotting
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Cite this Entry

“Rotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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