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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

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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 rotten How does this not end up with boots smelling like rotten eggs? Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 In total, it's fixed more than 23 million rotten links on Wikipedia alone, according to the organization. Emma Bowman, NPR, 23 Mar. 2025 The smell of rotten eggs, from when officials carted her off to quarantine without letting her refrigerate her groceries, is long gone. Vivian Wang, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2025 There weren’t just ‘rotten kids hanging out at the mall,’ as was said in those days. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
  • While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The royal palace is infested with evil spirits and one of them has taken hold of the young prince.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Doing so consumes water, requires the use of often eco-unfriendly cleansers, and adds an unpleasant task to janitors' daily duties.
    Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025
  • But that’s another unpleasant truth that is best left unspoken.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Road conditions are rapidly deteriorating, with the percentage of roads in poor condition expected to double in two years.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.
    Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
  • We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior.
    David Chiu, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump intends to completely reimagine U.S. trade relations with our closest partners and fiercest rivals, for better or worse.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • As an attempt to derive meaning from a meaningless phrase —which was, after all, the user's request—that's not half bad.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • United have fallen massively and it’s been a terrible watch all season, bar a couple of highs.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Public interest in the film intensified after a stroke of terrible happenstance.
    Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some cheaper tags don’t have a replaceable battery although some have rechargeable cells.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • With police turning a blind eye, Portland became a honeypot for local and out-of-state addicts to score cheap dope and use it freely.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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