ROTTEN Synonyms: 393 Similar and Opposite Words

rotten

adjective

ˈrä-tᵊn

Definition of rotten

as in spoiled

having undergone organic breakdown rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in unpleasant

not giving pleasure to the mind or senses had a rotten time while on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 If the produce’s skin is moldy, slimy, or rotten, it should be discarded regardless of type, as mold can penetrate beyond the visible surface. — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026 John Mozeliak — the interim general manager charged with repairing the rotten organization — did not take responsibility. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Even plants get in on the mimicry fun, with some mimicking the small of rotten meat to attract flies and others using their petals to trick flies into pollinating on them. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026 Its rotten fruits are evident in the current affordability crisis, weaponization of government against personal enemies, and an unwinnable conflict in Iran. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rotten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten

Adjective

The discrepancy in air time is a pain point West Coast viewers who are easily spoiled on social media about how couples fared.

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Disruptions that cascade across siloed departments generate redundant labor costs, spoiled cargo commitments, maintenance penalties and compensation claims.

— Abha Dogra, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of spoiled

Adjective

Margaret’s belief that Carrie is inherently evil because her conception wasn’t too far from rape is gone, along with Carrie’s awkwardness and chubbiness (and King’s suggestion that even fat girls can be desirable).

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
That isn’t to say that Mark Zuckerberg is less evil than Sam Altman, only that these films — one diagnostic, the other biblical — adopt categorically different perspectives on their subjects, neither one of whom can leave their humanity behind.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of evil

Adjective

As unpleasant as his job might be at the moment, Harbaugh is ostensibly safe.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Depriving the plant of light discourages the development of chlorophyll—the green plant pigment responsible for color—and rids the chicory of an unpleasant flavor.

— Tamar Adler, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

Platforms prefill a name, email and phone number so a user can submit in one tap without leaving the feed, which is wonderful for a consumer promotion and terrible for a six-figure investment.

— Jonathan Durante, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Saddled with terrible reviews and negative word-of-mouth, Tom Cruise‘s absurdist dark comedy has cratered at the box office with $8 million in North America and $20 million globally in its first weekend of release.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

But then came the nightmare of Game 3, one of the Sox’s worst performances in weeks.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Specifically, people with worse fever tended to have more of a protein called flagellin in their systems than those with little to no fever.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bad

Browse Nearby Words

rotted

rotten

rottenly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotten. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rotten

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes