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
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Recent Examples of rust
This is a heavy-duty option that doesn’t rust or warp and could last a lifetime.
—
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
But the salt air has taken a toll, and the stairways and landings going down to the beach were in bad shape with peeling paint, crumbling concrete steps and exposed, rusting rebar.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
Permafrost thaw is turning rivers orange As permafrost – the frozen ground that underlies much of the Arctic – continues its long-term warming and thaw, one emerging consequence is the spread of rusting rivers.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Researchers have observed higher acidity and a greater concentration of toxic metals in these rusting streams.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rust
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
But the salt air has taken a toll, and the stairways and landings going down to the beach were in bad shape with peeling paint, crumbling concrete steps and exposed, rusting rebar.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
Permafrost thaw is turning rivers orange As permafrost – the frozen ground that underlies much of the Arctic – continues its long-term warming and thaw, one emerging consequence is the spread of rusting rivers.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Researchers have observed higher acidity and a greater concentration of toxic metals in these rusting streams.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
Verb
-
Rourke alleged that the floors were rotted, there was no running water in a couple of places there should have been and the place was infested with rodents.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Their roots need air, and soil can be too dense and lead to rotting roots.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In essence, this would mean that alpha particles (helium nuclei) released by decaying uranium (or some other fissile material) would be focused through engine nozzles to generate thrust.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Or have all of his brain cells corroded away after years of huffing his own scent?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
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Moisture that’s constantly left inside the machine can cause internal parts to rust or corrode.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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