as in to rot
to form rust
The old car was left to rust in the yard of the abandoned house.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The same goes with cast-iron skillets, which can rust, and crystal, which can crack or grow cloudy.
—
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Part of the birth date on the tag, July 29, was clear, but the year was rusted beyond legibility.
—Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Lance Neal, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The staircase that leads to the ocean from Camino de la Costa in the Lower Hermosa neighborhood has been falling apart for years, to the point that the concrete is crumbling and the rebar is rusted.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Many competitors use solely metal or wood, both of which won’t last the test of time, this shed is made with thick steel plates that won’t rust or rot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rust
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Part of the birth date on the tag, July 29, was clear, but the year was rusted beyond legibility.
—Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Lance Neal, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The staircase that leads to the ocean from Camino de la Costa in the Lower Hermosa neighborhood has been falling apart for years, to the point that the concrete is crumbling and the rebar is rusted.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Many competitors use solely metal or wood, both of which won’t last the test of time, this shed is made with thick steel plates that won’t rust or rot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
Verb
-
Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury was the final blow, the last solid piece of the Good Ship Giannis that was keeping it afloat long after the rest of the rotting ship was overrun with rats.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Such molds can grow on a variety of fruits, including apples, especially rotting ones.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Communities also found decomposing bodies floating past their homes, leaders said.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2025
-
Inside the home, authorities found the 70-year-old’s body dismembered and decomposing in 14 plastic bags, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But the capture of banks corrodes markets in more insidious ways, as well.—
Elizabeth David-Barrett,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Gossip acts as an acid, corroding the workplace foundation silently and swiftly.—
Jason Walker PsyD,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share