rusts

verb

present tense third-person singular of rust
as in rots
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 rusts The red planet owes its distinctive hue to an oxidizing process that rusts iron present in the rocks and dust of Mars. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rusts
  1. rots
  2. decomposes
  3. decays
  4. corrodes
  5. oxidizes
Verb
  • In my experience, environment, culture, clarity, psychological safety and pace determine whether talent produces or rots.
    — Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • And be prepared to top off the soil in the future as the remaining root system rots away, causing the soil to sag.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of rots
Verb
  • Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Named for the Frenchman Joseph Fourier, the Fourier transform decomposes any function into a set of simple waves, each with a different frequency, or tone.
    — Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of decomposes
Verb
  • By writing an out-of-the-money call and an out-of-the-money put for late October, traders can harvest the elevated premium as time value rapidly decays.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This radioisotope decays into technetium-99m, an essential diagnostic imaging agent used to detect cancer and cardiovascular disease.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of decays
Verb
  • Two days later, the company confirmed a delivery received the prior week had been dripping hydrofluoric acid — a chemical that corrodes metal and can produce toxic fumes.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Over time, this mixture corrodes structural metals while radiation weakens them from within.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrodes
Verb
  • Peroxide oxidizes and breaks down the chemical bonds that color stains.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 June 2026
  • While the electron travels to the cathode to reduce carbon dioxide, the remaining hole simultaneously oxidizes the biomass molecule 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (HMFA), thereby executing two distinct chemical upgrades at the same time.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Definition of oxidizes

Browse Nearby Words

rustling
rusts
rusty
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Cite this Entry

“Rusts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rusts. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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