1
as in spoiled
having undergone organic breakdown
rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality
I can't do anything with these rotten tools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rotten
Residents have been suffering with structural issues, water leaks, and rotten floors, and the residents of the middle tier of the building were ordered to vacate with two days' notice in June of last year, Preservation Chicago said.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Bad One of the first signs your potting soil has gone bad is a rotten egg or sulfur smell.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Other signs include a rotten-egg smell in the water, odd noises from the water heater, rust-colored water, and low water pressure.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
There’s no sticky floors or rotten wood smell.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Bad One of the first signs your potting soil has gone bad is a rotten egg or sulfur smell.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Other signs include a rotten-egg smell in the water, odd noises from the water heater, rust-colored water, and low water pressure.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
There’s no sticky floors or rotten wood smell.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
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That said, ensuring community pets are thoroughly taken care of—perhaps even spoiled— is a cause many feel called to support.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
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The spousal death brings Madison Avenue queen Stacy out of New York City with her urban-spoiled daughters and granddaughters.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Watch out evil world, there is an angel of consequence at the gates.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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These men were not intrinsically evil; their gifts fueled their overreach while the chorus watched the collapse.—
Anthony Scaramucci,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet insects may also be attracted to scents unpleasant to us as several notable plant species instruct.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
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And a condition in which people experience unpleasant skin sensations such as burning, stabbing or a feeling like an electrical shock occurred in about 23% of those taking the higher dose of Wegovy versus 6% of those taking the lower dose and less than 1% in people who received a placebo.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even if the football this summer is terrible, plenty of the teams are going to look great.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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In the 1970s-1980s, all the agricultural talk in the Mississippi Delta was whether the boll weevil would be terrible or just awful this coming fall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While youth suicide remains a leading cause of death, the youth suicide rate is down in Colorado, and the number of kids reporting poor mental health also dropped from 23% in 2023 to 14% in 2025.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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The launch came amid overcast skies and a weather forecast that was reduced to just a 75% chance for good conditions, according to Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron, which also noted a moderate risk for poor conditions at the booster landing site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Vines growing on the trunk and branches can hide structural damage or potential hazards like a canker or decayed section of a branch or the trunk.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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Some are sandy; others are rich in organic matter formed from centuries of decayed plants.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.—
Justin Callais,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
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More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.—
Justin Callais,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What's worse are diesel prices.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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The family had made the three-day journey west based on reports that autism services in Colorado would be better, but in the upheaval of a move, Ethan had gotten worse and thrown his father into a wall.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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