as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the ghastly festering of the corpses abandoned on the battlefield
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bleeding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festering
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
This has been a festering issue not only for the industry but also for consumers.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The far better response would be for the Nigerian authorities — both state and federal — to tackle the festering conditions that have created the insecurity.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
And nearly omnipresent throughout is the soundtrack by Daniel Blumberg, who brought the rhythms of industrialization and its festering underbelly to 2024’s The Brutalist and won an Oscar for it.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
There’s always been a festering envy for many years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
Either there will be sunlight or a scandal that keeps festering.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Instead, what has become a festering problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder came up yet again.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Is corruption festering in the apparently homogeneous suburb?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2025
Adding to the festering sense of uncertainty about the enterprise is the principal characters’ embrace of the supernatural.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
For the moment at least, embassies remain open in both capitals despite a festering but unrelated diplomatic spat that has seen the two sides expel dozens of diplomats since 2017.
—chicagotribune.com, 3 Mar. 2022
CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
That’ll leave an already tense relationship festering through the end of the season as both sides are left to reckon with a true fall from grace.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Not helping matters are festering rivalries within the opposition.
—John Otis, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Whatever, exactly, is festering between Cannon, her mom, and Gung Gung goes largely unsaid.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
The soot becomes dust that covers humans and animals, producing festering boils.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
This has been a festering issue not only for the industry but also for consumers.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The far better response would be for the Nigerian authorities — both state and federal — to tackle the festering conditions that have created the insecurity.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
And nearly omnipresent throughout is the soundtrack by Daniel Blumberg, who brought the rhythms of industrialization and its festering underbelly to 2024’s The Brutalist and won an Oscar for it.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
There’s always been a festering envy for many years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
Either there will be sunlight or a scandal that keeps festering.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Instead, what has become a festering problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder came up yet again.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Is corruption festering in the apparently homogeneous suburb?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In the Flesh, Sherman rips off the straitjacket after four seasons (and counting) on Saturday Night Live, unleashing a festering and hilarious hour of bodily fluids, open-wound confessionals, and jokes that will leave scars on your soul.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2025
Adding to the festering sense of uncertainty about the enterprise is the principal characters’ embrace of the supernatural.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
For the moment at least, embassies remain open in both capitals despite a festering but unrelated diplomatic spat that has seen the two sides expel dozens of diplomats since 2017.
—chicagotribune.com, 3 Mar. 2022
Verb
The long-festering malaise erupted into street demonstrations last September, triggered by a social media ban, that brought thousands onto the streets, leading to clashes and fatalities that forced the resignation of Oli.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
That’ll leave an already tense relationship festering through the end of the season as both sides are left to reckon with a true fall from grace.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Not helping matters are festering rivalries within the opposition.
—John Otis, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Whatever, exactly, is festering between Cannon, her mom, and Gung Gung goes largely unsaid.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festering
Noun
-
The system begins by preprocessing battery data using a technique called complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, warmer water temperatures and the decomposition of organic material can promote bacterial growth.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In tests using mice, after surgical damage to the liver, AGCL was able to perform significantly better than other current anti-bleeding agents, with normal liver function returning just two weeks after its application.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2026
-
These injuries resulted in 684 days lost per 1,000 training hours during menstruation, compared to 206 days lost during non-bleeding days.—
Ciara Lucas,
SELF,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Now, plans are finally underway to remove the rotting vestiges of the structure.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Just keep it a couple of inches away from plant crowns and stems to avoid rotting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Samples returned during the Apollo missions have linked this to higher concentrations of heat-producing radioactive elements such as thorium, whose decay likely fueled ancient volcanic eruptions, while much of the rest of the moon remained comparatively cooler.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Film negatives deteriorate through humidity, chemical decay and physical damage, and without timely intervention, important works risk being lost entirely.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Scientists have also observed that these electrical signals become more active when the hyphae of wood-decomposing fungi come into contact with wood, suggesting fungi might use this signaling to relay information about nutrients or damage across their networks.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
-
These electrical signals become more active when the hyphae of wood-decomposing fungi touch wood.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Concerns about 'brain rot' behavior Using a statistical model, researchers then predicted how changes in mental activity would affect dementia risk.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Black, white, colorful, graphic—the perfect baggy tee will hold your hand through low-key days at the office, weekends in the park, and your laziest bed-rot days.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For the most part, the nagging ailments have been minimal, with Jaquez appearing in all but seven games this season, after missing 16 last season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Everything seemed mostly normal, aside from my lingering symptoms and nagging intuition that something was off with my body.—
Jillian Wager,
Glamour,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festering. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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