1
as in spoiled
having undergone organic breakdown
rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
played a rotten trick and then lied about it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had a rotten time while on vacation
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4
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory
rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate
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5
as in poor
of low quality
I can't do anything with these rotten tools
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rotten
Because ranked among 17 criteria, the state’s average score was rotten.
—
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
However, many of the houses required significant repairs, such as removing rotten floorboards or other major renovations, which would have added extra costs beyond the home’s asking price.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The justification that one was merely following orders has always looked rotten in hindsight.
—Robert Kesten, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
So Trump’s rotten character is now a problem for our whole economy.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
However, many of the houses required significant repairs, such as removing rotten floorboards or other major renovations, which would have added extra costs beyond the home’s asking price.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The justification that one was merely following orders has always looked rotten in hindsight.
—Robert Kesten, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
So Trump’s rotten character is now a problem for our whole economy.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
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The first season concludes with patriarch Horace Bellaire marrying Kimmie from his hospital bed, leaving her his inheritance and shocking his spoiled heirs.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Kayla Blanton is a freelance lifestyle writer, editor, and reviewer of seven years and a proud cat mom to three very spoiled rescues.—
Kayla Blanton,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The inexcusable, evil acts of an individual.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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He and his followers were locked in a battle with an enemy that was not just ideologically opposed but unwell, possibly evil.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Increase your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to reduce unpleasant side effects like cramping and bloating.—
Courtney Southwick,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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Any unpleasant government decision—such as the August order blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, on the pretext of preventing scams and terrorist activity—tends to be perceived mostly with passive discontent and immediate adaptation with the search for alternative practical solutions.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The horrible accident — later determined to be caused by pilot error — remains the deadliest plane crash in Charlotte history.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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But then came a horrible deep-ball attempt intended for Stefon Diggs that Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Cutting carbs entirely can raise the risk of cholesterol, kidney stones, poor bone health, gut problems, and even cancer, added Stefanki.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
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Before Wednesday’s game, people within the organization were optimistic about Helsley putting his tipping problem and overall poor pitching behind him, pointing to a clean inning Monday.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
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The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Ladapo said the decision was not reached according to the data, but instead on his view that vaccine mandates are immoral and outside the scope of the government’s authority.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
7 Sep. 2025
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Even the paper’s biggest triumph—which, without giving too much away, brings it into direct conflict with its toilet-paper stablemate—involves a farcically immoral compromise that tramples the church-state divide between news and product sales (and, worse, isn’t all that funny).—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But that’s actually a bad thing for a couple reasons.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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But worse than the poverty was the verbal and physical abuse from his father.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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