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
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4
as in terrible
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
Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs and ammonia gives off notes of urine, sweat or dead fish.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Then there was the rotten-egg smell.
—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
10 June 2026
Festering below, stagnant water emanates the telltale smell of rotten eggs, likely a mix of methane and sulfur dioxide.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
That requirement could give them power to better the city’s rotten hand, even if only in a small way, some aldermen believe.
—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Then there was the rotten-egg smell.
—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
10 June 2026
Festering below, stagnant water emanates the telltale smell of rotten eggs, likely a mix of methane and sulfur dioxide.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
That requirement could give them power to better the city’s rotten hand, even if only in a small way, some aldermen believe.
—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
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Lineage officials said that their top priority as of Monday night was addressing the stench permeating over Boyle Heights due to the spoiled food.
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Blyth was nominated in the supporting role as Mildred's spoiled daughter, Veda, who seduces her mother's second husband (Zachary Scott), then riddles him with bullets in a jealous rage.
Adjective
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There is so much evil and suffering in the world, so much conniving and malicious intent, and the self is, at least, a familiar foe.
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When the monsters reveal an evil agenda that goes beyond becoming movie stars, the Minions are forced to battle them to save the world.
Adjective
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Alas, Ligeti proved to be an extraordinarily difficult collaborator, his manic perfectionism colliding with practical reality and leading to unpleasant scenes.
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The consequences are unpleasant, but can also turn dangerous very quickly as body temperature rises.
Adjective
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Thank you to everyone who read or contributed to this column over the years, who reached out to me with story ideas or tips, or complimented my terrible artwork.
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Visitors will see his Rough Riders uniform; the 1884 diary grieving his terrible loss; and the eyeglasses case, speech and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
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The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
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Discard any that look dead or decayed.
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The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
Adjective
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Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
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These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.
Adjective
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In two randomized trials conducted by Stanford economist Nick Bloom, for example, workers reported improved mental health, not worse.
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Heavy rain was bad enough, but lightning in the area is, obviously, nothing to be trifled with.
Cite this Entry
“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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