as in bootleg
Related Words
Relevance
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 rotgut
As alcohol bans lingered, poorer quality substitutes increasingly overwhelmed the black market: bathtub gin, pure grain alcohol and other rotguts.
—
David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 23 July 2023
But mingling with Robert Mitchum and Lana Turner, cocktail in hand, makes even a rotgut movie a top-shelf experience.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 May 2023
Born in 1912 to a Kashmiri family in the northern state of Punjab, Manto fell under the spell of Gorky and Poe, not to mention the rotgut that would kill him at the age of forty-two.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022
During that time, rotgut liquor wasn’t ideal for drinking straight, which made speakeasies get creative, birthing some delicious cocktails that endure to this day.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2021
Moonshine that falls into the rotgut category could be dangerous and even deadly for anyone desperate enough to drink it.
—Alan Ashe, CNN, 7 June 2018
David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 23 July 2023
But mingling with Robert Mitchum and Lana Turner, cocktail in hand, makes even a rotgut movie a top-shelf experience.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 May 2023
Born in 1912 to a Kashmiri family in the northern state of Punjab, Manto fell under the spell of Gorky and Poe, not to mention the rotgut that would kill him at the age of forty-two.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022
During that time, rotgut liquor wasn’t ideal for drinking straight, which made speakeasies get creative, birthing some delicious cocktails that endure to this day.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2021
Moonshine that falls into the rotgut category could be dangerous and even deadly for anyone desperate enough to drink it.
—Alan Ashe, CNN, 7 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotgut
Noun
-
Early on, the Patriots favored outside zone run concepts from under center and play-action bootleg throws off those same runs.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
-
She’s posted up like a bootleg seller on the streets of New York, went on the subway to sell the record, and even hosted a pop-up shop at a bodega to promote the LP.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Human cravings for booze may have deep evolutionary roots, a new study has shown.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Still grieving the death of his wife and the imprisonment of his son, Brandis binges on booze but possesses a sharp and intuitive mind, even if his family life is in disarray.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And while hair perfumes are typically less concentrated and contain less alcohol (to prevent dryness), our testers appreciated that the scent lingers all day long.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
However, according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations, you are not allowed to drink alcohol on board unless it’s served by a flight attendant.—
Jessie Beck,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Zacapa Created under the watchful eye of Lorena Vásquez, one of the few female master blenders in the business, Zacapa is a Guatemalan rum brand known for a unique blending and distilling process that sets it apart from the rest.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Bourbon, rum, or cognac can be added to the frosting for even more depth.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Reddit user, who goes by u/HungrymanH, shared a photo of what appears to be a practically empty red-eye flight and offered a wry take on the airline's rationale.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Although the lack of roux means that red-eye gravy is ready in minutes with minimal stirring and no risk of lumping, some cooks cannot resist thickening their gravy with pinches of flour or cornmeal, or toning it down with a splash of cream.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In his office at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler kept several jars of brownish-red homemade moonshine that were natural conversation pieces when the talk turned to NASCAR’s roots.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The downtown distillery and bar uses the original Great Depression-era recipe for its moonshine, but has also expanded to produce vodka, whiskey, sorghum rum, and beer.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The 100 Years of Summer bourbon winks at the past by packaging the hooch in the same half-pint bottle ol’ Annie used to hide.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Seen swilling hooch in her pajamas and stuffing herself with week-old discarded cake, Dee anticipated the guys' every insult with dead-eyed clarity.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
It is known for its refreshing notes of honey and lemon, which balance out the immense spice of bathtub gin.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
23 Nov. 2024
-
As alcohol bans lingered, poorer quality substitutes increasingly overwhelmed the black market: bathtub gin, pure grain alcohol and other rotguts.—
David Reamer | Alaska history,
Anchorage Daily News,
23 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Rotgut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotgut. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share