RUST Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

rust

verb

Definition of rust

as in to rot

to form rust The old car was left to rust in the yard of the abandoned house.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 Why Rust Stains Keep Appearing Despite its name, rust stains don’t necessarily mean your toilet is rusting. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 16 July 2026 In addition to the physical manifestation — the rusting fort jutting out of the water — Sealand will stay alive online, due in large part to the very idea of its founding. — Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 12 July 2026 Boltanski’s haunting installation consists of rusting archive boxes stacked to form dark, narrow passageways. — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for rust

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust

Verb

The Lineage warehouse fire, which erupted a mile away nearly two months ago, still blankets the church every morning with the fetid stench of millions of pounds of rotting food that have yet to be trucked away.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
The smell of rotting food follows Juan Canil like a second shadow.

— Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of rot

Verb

Authorities are investigating after human remains at a Chicago funeral home were allegedly found decaying in an unrefrigerated area infested with rodents.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
Authorities were notified Thursday of more than 50 decaying bodies that were found improperly stored at a funeral home in Chicago, according to county officials.

— Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decay

Verb

An investigation was underway at a Far South Side funeral home after more than 50 decomposing bodies were found in the facility.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
In 2023, nearly 200 decomposing bodies were found in a building in Colorado, and another 31 decomposing bodies were discovered at an Indiana funeral home.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

Liquid lead can corrode steel over time at normal operating temperatures of 530°C (about 990°F).

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
From that moment suspicion corrodes old loyalties, and the village’s Muslims are evacuated to a refugee camp for transport to Pakistan.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of corrode

Browse Nearby Words

rushing

rust

rusted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rust

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rust

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gnomic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes