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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

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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 rotten The smell of rotten eggs, from when officials carted her off to quarantine without letting her refrigerate her groceries, is long gone. Vivian Wang, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2025 There weren’t just ‘rotten kids hanging out at the mall,’ as was said in those days. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025 The unhinged reaction is proof the culture of the federal government workforce is rotten and needs dramatic transformation, not incremental change. Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025 Still, power is power and the Albany Dems were getting ready to pass the rotten bill. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
  • While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The royal palace is infested with evil spirits and one of them has taken hold of the young prince.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With the present geopolitical situation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, landmines are making a very unpleasant comeback.
    David Szondy, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In our testing, the formula feels like a gel-serum—and doesn't get heavy, gloopy, or otherwise unpleasant.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Then someone pointed a finger at a surprising culprit: the soldiers’ poor health.
    Maxim Sytch, Harvard Business Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.
    Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
  • We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior.
    David Chiu, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That means more time for Rojas, who has shown more bad than good to begin this season.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Black Mirror’s most effective episodes use their high-concept premises to explore people’s hunger for connection and validation, and how our increasingly tech-forward, capitalistic world can stretch those human impulses to the limit for better or (almost always) worse.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • What is disconcerting is when campaign donors and friends & family have commuted sentences after they have been legally convicted of terrible financial crimes.
    Sanjeev Menon, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Skinner had a terrible time of it for much of the season.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Their tech lets clothing companies show off a wide variety of sizes and styles—and for a whole lot cheaper.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In Flacco and Pickett, the Browns have two veteran backups on cheap contracts signed only for 2025.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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