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
There’s been a particular urgency lately, said Gutierrez, because the base of the sign is rusting and deteriorating.
—
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Why would Mary Todd Lincoln want to flood my basement and rust my bowflex?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The tank appeared old and rusted, and was clearly marked.
—Corey J. Murray, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This technique works if the metals are just a bit grimy, but wood ash can also be used to remove tarnish and rust, too.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Why would Mary Todd Lincoln want to flood my basement and rust my bowflex?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The tank appeared old and rusted, and was clearly marked.
—Corey J. Murray, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This technique works if the metals are just a bit grimy, but wood ash can also be used to remove tarnish and rust, too.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
Verb
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Pots simmered on the stove with paella, fruit rotted in bowls next to the junk mail, and the pantry was full of old rusted cans of strange unearthly edibles—bamboo shoots and snails in sauce and lemons floating in brine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
Soggy soil can cause rot, and overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
And what with all the love and pain, something in me softened—or maybe decayed.—
Eva Wiseman,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
-
The depressions in watermelon around seeds are also more liable to decay than the solid flesh of seedless types.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In November 2019, soil engineer Tim Neiligan, a former FBI chemist, began researching how bodies decompose in soil.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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These microorganisms will decompose the organic carbon chains and release the nutrients.—
Haniya Rae,
Martha Stewart,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Replace rusted hardware or hardware that's beginning to corrode.—
Sheila Kim,
The Spruce,
2 May 2026
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Regularly check the batteries inside your emergency kit to make sure they are still securely packed and have not corroded.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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