as in to rot
to form rust
The old car was left to rust in the yard of the abandoned house.
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Recent Examples of rust
Over time, humidity and condensation can also rust metal and cause paint to bubble or peel.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
If not properly maintained, the Dutch oven can rust over time.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
This type of coverage typically replaces car parts that have rusted through.
—Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Made with galvanized steel, this storage shed is designed to withstand rain and wind without rusting or corroding.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
If not properly maintained, the Dutch oven can rust over time.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
This type of coverage typically replaces car parts that have rusted through.
—Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Made with galvanized steel, this storage shed is designed to withstand rain and wind without rusting or corroding.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
Verb
-
Backfill with soil, being careful not to place the soil against the stem, as this can cause rot.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
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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
Verb
-
Hyde has McCallany playing Detective Grimes, a haunted investigator descending into the decaying underbelly of a crumbling metropolis while hunting a brutal serial killer.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
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When success is no longer about who has the best product, but who has the best connections or the most aggressive lobbyists, the organism begins to decay from within.—
Nitin Gupta,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
One of the latest challenges is hydrogen sulfide – a foul-smelling gas given off by decomposing bat droppings inside the chamber, that caused some crew members to faint, Kengkad told CNN.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Microbes create oxygen in the atmosphere, decompose waste material, and help plants absorb nutrients.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
But if a transmission main breaks or a treatment plant makes a mistake, that plaque could corrode or dislodge.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 June 2026
-
Neither captures the gut punch of betrayal when something precious is corroded beyond recognition.—
Eric Ries,
Time,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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