rot 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rotnext
1
as in nuts
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense I won't stand here and listen to such rot

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2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the rot begins shortly after the fish are killed

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rot

2 of 2

verb

ˈrät How to pronounce rot (audio)
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted

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2
as in to decay
to go through decomposition rotting vegetation on the bank of the river

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rot different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rot are decay, decompose, putrefy, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

Where would decay be a reasonable alternative to rot?

The words decay and rot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

When can decompose be used instead of rot?

The words decompose and rot can be used in similar contexts, but decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

When would putrefy be a good substitute for rot?

While in some cases nearly identical to rot, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

In what contexts can spoil take the place of rot?

While the synonyms spoil and rot are close in meaning, spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

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 rot
Noun
As the rot advances and retreats—and the vine’s natural defenses kick in—the grapes’ metabolism changes, reducing acidity and water content while developing savory-enhancing compounds. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 16 Apr. 2025 This lumber contains more of the copper preservative to resist rot and decay. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
The rotting teeth of our children because of this fluoride ban is a metaphor for the rot in our government. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025 Watering them during this time can cause the bulbs to rot, especially in warm, humid conditions. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rot
  1. nuts
  2. deteriorate
  3. decay
  4. garbage
  5. crumble
  6. decompose
  7. nonsense
  8. worsen
Noun
  • Use it to find and retrieve stray nuts or bolts in any crevice.
    — Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, kale and asparagus are also included in most low-carb diets—as are eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt and nuts like walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts and pistachios.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of nuts
Verb
  • Their mental health deteriorated, which reinforced the officer’s excuse to keep them deadlocked.
    — Justyna Rzewinski, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
  • While more durable than the original Irish linen that encased the wings when the KC Eaglet rolled out of the factory on Aug. 12, 1930, all fabrics will deteriorate over time from exposure to the sun.
    — Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.
    — Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.
    — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Allegiance The Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, regroups on the garbage planet Anoat, while Finn and Poe go on a secret mission to retrieve a weapons cache to increase their dwindling arsenal.
    — Nick Romano, EW.com, 25 May 2025
  • Duluth, Minnesota, has installed effective and unobtrusive signs at each beach entrance next to a garbage receptacle.
    — John Michael Pierobon, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2025
Definition of garbage
Verb
  • Old systems are crumbling under the pressure of new conditions.
    — Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • For the characters who remain, there’s a sense that the world’s well of meaning has run dry; the old institutions have crumbled, and no one is coming to save us.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • This multi-agent architecture enables organizations to decompose complex business processes into manageable, specialized components.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Las Vegas Metro Police discovered the body of Matthew Kelemen, 56, decomposing and wrapped in a tarp inside a locked plastic bin near Fremont Street on May 20 after responding to reports of a foul odor, the department wrote in a press release.
    — Christina Coulter, People.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of decompose
Noun
  • This nonsense all tracks back to a May 9 visit Baraka, McIver and other members of Congress made to a New Jersey immigration detention center.
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Stop this nonsense [or] your executives and employees will see the same fate… Make the correct decision and pay the ransom.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 20 May 2025
Definition of nonsense
Verb
  • There are also mental health impacts with worsening anxiety, stress, and depression in the hotter summer months.
    — Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Truckers are a key industrial force that helps keep the worsening Iranian economy above water.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of worsen

Browse Nearby Words

rosy
rot
rotaries
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Cite this Entry

“Rot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rot. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rot

Nglish: Translation of rot for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rot

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