rust

verb

Definition of rustnext
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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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 rust Anyone caught on the receiving end of a DIY soccer cleat loaded with sharp, likely rusting metal nails probably wasn’t getting back up to finish the game. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 Part of the fun is how Young himself refuses to rust into a nostalgia act. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 Is a suspension cable losing its structural strength because its inner steel wires are rusting away? — Alex Krasnok, Scientific American, 25 June 2026 The folding chairs are made from sturdy steel that can get through the summer sun, the winter snow, and the spring rain without rusting. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
  1. rot
  2. decay
  3. decompose
  4. corrode
Verb
  • This is an abiotic or physiological disorder known as blossom end rot.
    — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
  • This can trap the moisture and lead to fungus, diseases, pests, and rot.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of rot
Verb
  • Community response to the initiative Lyman especially hopes to gain additional funds for neighbors with decaying property and to improve other property in the neighborhoods.
    — Julianna Mejia July 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
  • If the market's overreaction to the aborted test flight subsides and SpaceX successfully launches next week, those expensive downside puts should decay rapidly.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • The catalyst causes hydrogen peroxide to decompose rapidly into water and oxygen gas.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • In the mornings, our counselors still walk, slowly now, through the stench of bodies decomposing under the ruins of schools, mosques, and homes.
    — James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of decompose
Verb
  • Whether such goals can be achieved, and whether failing to achieve them will corrode public support, is another matter.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The acidity in bird droppings can corrode metal, stain wood, dull finishes, and etch paint if left too long.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of corrode

Browse Nearby Words

rushing
rust
rusted
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Cite this Entry

“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rust

Nglish: Translation of rust for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rust

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