rotten

adjective

ˈrä-tᵊn How to pronounce rotten (audio)
Definition of rottennext
1
as in spoiled
having undergone organic breakdown rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses had a rotten time while on vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality I can't do anything with these rotten tools

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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 There is something rotten about it, and its been that way for a large sample size now. — Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025 Summary Flatulence that smells like rotten eggs is common and is caused by eating foods containing sulfur. — Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025 If the furnace is producing a rotten egg smell, do not try to locate the leak yourself. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025 How has anyone from the notoriously rotten gang at Paddy’s made someone better? — Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rotten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
  1. evil
  2. unpleasant
  3. horrible
  4. poor
  5. immoral
  6. bad
  7. terrible
  8. cheap
Adjective
  • Ben Stiller even makes a brief cameo as the evil nursing home orderly, Hal.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The children were not killed by an Israeli rocket attack, as Hamas claimed, but brutally murdered by evil terrorists.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • This is notable, given that post-Covid brick and mortar shopping has generally become so unpleasant, it’s given rise to the need for a personal shopper.
    — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Less a song than a gag, every individual element is unpleasant: single-entendre lyrics; vocals and synths that aren’t even in the same key; and the less said about Space Cowboy’s guest verse, the better.
    — Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • The tech giant had a horrible week, off nearly 11% in the period despite Friday’s relief bounce.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
  • This is really happening and these horrible things are happening and that this person doesn't want to be happening.
    — Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • But there is another concerning trend and area that has to be improved — their poor record on second balls.
    — Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The campaign materials were unequivocal: Worley believed LGBT influences in society were immoral.
    — Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And so Rose, immortal on the field, with a bat, was judged immoral off it by the saints who guard baseball’s gate.
    — Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • Jayson Tatum kept the Celtics in the game most of the night with 33 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, but Brown had one of his worst games of the year with just 10 points.
    — Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • So first, the argument for not giving President Trump and Elon Musk more power to do more bad, to move money around at will, to shut down more organizations and to give it our vote.
    — Mansee Khurana, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Traditional networks grant access just because a device is on the network, which is a terrible idea.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Other adults in the room opt to avert their eyes as Jamie disrobes, but Eddie can’t turn away, out of a mix of protectiveness and horrified shock, in the same way that there’s no editor to protect the characters, the actors, or the audience from having to live in each terrible moment of the scene.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Being cheap is completely foolish and a lot of people make that mistake.
    — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Replacement filters are cheap and the reservoir holds 2.4 liters.
    — Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of cheap

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Cite this Entry

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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