1
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
I won't stand here and listen to such rot
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the rot begins shortly after the fish are killed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decay
to go through decomposition
rotting vegetation on the bank of the river
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rot
Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Jade plants are sensitive to too much humidity, and an overly humid environment increases the chances of rot.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
Keep the mulch 2 inches away from the trunk to avoid rot.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Noun
But the rot may have spread too far.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Jade plants are sensitive to too much humidity, and an overly humid environment increases the chances of rot.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025
Verb
An excessively thick layer can trap too much moisture, causing disease and rot, especially if the mulch is piled up next to the stem or trunk of plants and trees.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
Keep the mulch 2 inches away from the trunk to avoid rot.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
Noun
-
Installed on the former garbage dump bounded by Sunset, Lewis, Western and Glen Flora avenues, there are now 20,000 solar panels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Rescuers retrieved eight people alive and were searching for the missing still trapped after a huge mound of garbage and debris collapsed on them in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city, police said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The body of a month-old boy found in a duffel bag stuffed in a closet inside his family’s apartment was in an advanced state of decomposition — and his mother told cops her son hadn’t been home for at least two weeks before being arrested for hiding his corpse, prosecutors said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office determined at the time that Schlake drowned, but his body was in such a state of decomposition that officials could not immediately identify him, said Adam Linhardt, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly once snow begins, and hazardous conditions could persist into Sunday morning before snow tapers off.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Travel conditions could deteriorate rapidly as early as Friday evening.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In essence, this would mean that alpha particles (helium nuclei) released by decaying uranium (or some other fissile material) would be focused through engine nozzles to generate thrust.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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While many have decayed, some have been lovingly restored, such as Palermo’s Neo-Gothic Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata, which has remained in the same family since the 15th century.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Morton kosher salt; process until nuts are very finely chopped, about 30 seconds.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Granola One of the original ‘health foods,’ granola contains many nutritious ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and seeds.—
Sarah Anzlovar,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The old guard is crumbling, as the NCAA no longer regulates the economic exchange of value between schools and their players—not to mention the outside intervention of third-party interests.—
Dr. Marcus Collins,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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But questions kept coming, and my trust was crumbling.—
Margaret Keane,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The following month, on April 17, 1996, two county workers stumbled across the decomposing remains of Kenneth Smith.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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The body was decomposed, a fire official said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Subsequent rulings expanded the assault on our electoral system, including Citizens United, which equates people to corporations — more nonsense.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
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There will be times when too much time on my hands leads to nonsense, like deep character dives on Instagram regarding the wives of ex-boyfriends.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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