1
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
4
5

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 The prospect of a weaker board comes in the context of the urgent need to deal with huge issues facing MPS, especially after the rotten year the school system has had in 2024. Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 Just avoid adding rotten food to bokashi or worm bin composters because mold can throw off the composting process in indoor composting systems. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024 Villa will hope their rotten luck against City finally changes this weekend. Oli Gamp, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024 Millennial comedians let rotten bureaucrats go unprotested. Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rotten 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten
Adjective
  • After all, how many evil corporations have started because a guy got embarrassed about his wiener in the woods?
    Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Other groups saw them as fires generated by evil sky spirits.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Investors were greeted with unpleasant inflation data on Tuesday.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The steam emanating from the hot oats began to cook the egg whites, which gave the dish an unpleasant scrambled egg-like texture.
    Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There are so many horrible things happening in the world.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Still, a light at the end of this very horrible long tunnel might be a bit more visible at this time.
    Greg Palkot, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Without education, students with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health, and social isolation.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Cosgrove, a rookie revelation in 2023, is looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season.
    Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Even though the Hamas charter directly calls for the murder of all Jews, all people must speak out against the immoral proposal to force an entire population into exile.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The Mann Act criminalizes transporting people across state lines for immoral purposes.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
  • There have been worse trades than the one that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.
    Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There have been plenty of terrible Oscar hosts over the years but this was a car crash that could easily have been avoided.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Secrets bob to the surface like drowning victims from the deep until nobody — not even the reader — can easily separate the terrible truth from even more terrible fictions.
    M.L. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Also, when compared to active mutual funds, with an average fee of 1.02%, active ETFs are relatively cheaper.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025
  • For example, new builds are cheaper than existing homes in Austin, Texas, where builders have cranked out more (relatively) affordable inventory.
    Brianna Crane, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near rotten

Cite this Entry

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rotten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!