1
as in spoiled
having undergone organic breakdown
rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had a rotten time while on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory
rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality
I can't do anything with these rotten tools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Because ranked among 17 criteria, the state’s average score was rotten.
—
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
However, many of the houses required significant repairs, such as removing rotten floorboards or other major renovations, which would have added extra costs beyond the home’s asking price.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The justification that one was merely following orders has always looked rotten in hindsight.
—Robert Kesten, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
So Trump’s rotten character is now a problem for our whole economy.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
However, many of the houses required significant repairs, such as removing rotten floorboards or other major renovations, which would have added extra costs beyond the home’s asking price.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The justification that one was merely following orders has always looked rotten in hindsight.
—Robert Kesten, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
So Trump’s rotten character is now a problem for our whole economy.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
-
In 1951, the effervescent Crowley starred as a spoiled teenager on the ABC Saturday afternoon show A Date With Judy, which had been a popular radio program and then a 1948 movie that starred Jane Powell.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
-
From spoiled chicken to dead cockroaches, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City area restaurants last week.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The inexcusable, evil acts of an individual.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
-
He and his followers were locked in a battle with an enemy that was not just ideologically opposed but unwell, possibly evil.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Just the prospect of interacting with that person can be unpleasant or feel draining.—
Josh Davis,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
-
One unpleasant but necessary aspect of board service is disciplinary action against unneighborly behavior by members.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Can a horrible 17-year-old turn into a 31-year-old person with integrity and empathy?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Can a 17-year-old horrible person turn into a 31-year-old person with integrity and empathy?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The poll also found that 51% of respondents perceive the current state of the economy as poor, and 61% express a lack of confidence that the economy will improve next year.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Low User Adoption Due To Poor Onboarding The primary hurdle is often low user adoption due to poor onboarding and a steep learning curve.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, cousin Edmund, an aspiring clergyman, falls under the charms of Mary Crawford, written by Austen as a charming but immoral woman.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Ladapo said the decision was not reached according to the data, but instead on his view that vaccine mandates are immoral and outside the scope of the government’s authority.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But that’s actually a bad thing for a couple reasons.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
But worse than the poverty was the verbal and physical abuse from his father.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share