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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festering
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
There, Marlon must cross the polluted waters of the festering Guanabara Bay in search of a former commander turned messianic cult leader to stop the spread of their paramilitary group.
—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Female screwworms lay hundreds of eggs in the wounds and openings of warm-blooded creatures, allowing their larvae to feast on the living animals, causing deep, festering, life-threatening wounds.
—
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
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
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
But, the most intriguing part of the current situation presiding over the SEC is how many schools are actually on the same page about the economic structure that athletic directors and presidents are currently festering over.
—
Trey Wallace Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Six decades of Cuban history were festering under the country’s blanket of silence, giving us a collective identity crisis.
—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
The high costs of doing business in California, festering labor issues, fierce competition and crime have hit the chain hard in Southern California.
—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Cantor Fitzgerald market strategist Eric Johnston remains tactically bullish but is citing some festering concerns around earnings quality and the sustainability of the AI bonanza.
—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
But the explosive anger, vicious vendettas, and festering class resentments expressed so powerfully in season one remain.
—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
This film has likely been festering a good while.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Contreras has had a long-festering feud with the Brewers throughout his career, but the 24 hit-by-pitches in 121 games against the Brewers are the most hit-by-pitches by one team against any active player.
—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
But as the inmate and his fellow prisoners journey into the wilderness, the real threat isn’t the trek, but the betrayal and violence festering within their ranks.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
There, Marlon must cross the polluted waters of the festering Guanabara Bay in search of a former commander turned messianic cult leader to stop the spread of their paramilitary group.
—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Female screwworms lay hundreds of eggs in the wounds and openings of warm-blooded creatures, allowing their larvae to feast on the living animals, causing deep, festering, life-threatening wounds.
—
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
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
Verb
And what that means is that festering problems are postponed.
—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
But, the most intriguing part of the current situation presiding over the SEC is how many schools are actually on the same page about the economic structure that athletic directors and presidents are currently festering over.
—
Trey Wallace Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Six decades of Cuban history were festering under the country’s blanket of silence, giving us a collective identity crisis.
—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
The high costs of doing business in California, festering labor issues, fierce competition and crime have hit the chain hard in Southern California.
—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Cantor Fitzgerald market strategist Eric Johnston remains tactically bullish but is citing some festering concerns around earnings quality and the sustainability of the AI bonanza.
—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
But the explosive anger, vicious vendettas, and festering class resentments expressed so powerfully in season one remain.
—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
This film has likely been festering a good while.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Contreras has had a long-festering feud with the Brewers throughout his career, but the 24 hit-by-pitches in 121 games against the Brewers are the most hit-by-pitches by one team against any active player.
—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festering
Noun
-
Authorities also found numerous dead animals in advanced stages of decomposition, including hundreds of chickens that investigators said had been discarded in bags and fed to the dogs, according to The Straits Times and The Standard.
-
Investigators also found additional remains in advanced stages of decomposition, the sheriff’s office said.
Adjective
-
Dickerson was the first physician to treat Mike Studeny, who was diagnosed with a non-bleeding stroke.
-
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.
Verb
-
In his inital letter, Lehmkuhl agreed that there is an urgent need to clear debris and address the persistent odor of millions of pounds of rotting food at the site.
-
Applying mulch directly against plant stems traps moisture, leading to rotting and other issues.
Noun
-
The aisles were so choked that blooms and branches brushed against us, the air heady with the scent of lilies, roses, eucalyptus, and sweet decay.
-
The physical properties of TRISO fuel and gas cooling allow the core to dissipate residual decay heat naturally.
Adjective
-
In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
-
Some people drove or walked by, staring, and a video of the cross-burning gained traction online.
Verb
-
The Yolo County Central Landfill will build a new system that will convert methane from decomposing waste into renewable natural gas, the county announced Tuesday.
-
The ocean becomes a creamy expanse splotched with brown mats of decomposing algae, according to photos shared by Abrams.
Noun
-
Soaking cherry seeds helps remove the pulp, preventing rot that can hinder germination.
-
The rot began long before the 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
Adjective
-
The paddle brush, meanwhile, solved a nagging hair problem for me.
-
Even with the evaluation by Cedar Hill, some nagging concerns remain.
Cite this Entry
“Festering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festering. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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