rusting

verb

present participle of rust
as in rotting
to form rust The old car was left to rust in the yard of the abandoned house.

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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 rusting This is particularly necessary for knives made from high-carbon steel, which are prone to rusting. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026 Preparing for a possible attack, the gunner fired a heavy-caliber round from his rusting weapon. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 It’s designed to stand up to harsh weather conditions without rusting or corroding—no furniture covers needed—and comes partially pre-assembled for breezy setup. — Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026 The construction will focus on various structural issues around the facility, including water damage, rusting steel, and over three decades-old industrial chillers. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026 Justice Department lawyers have argued that the building needs extensive repairs, citing water damage and rusting steel, according to The Hill. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 The car had spent years being stored out in the open, rusting away beneath a carport in Miami’s Coconut Grove district. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026 The rusting hull — once a famed vessel known as the Slovenian — surfaced earlier this month from the Sava River near the Serbian town of Sremska Mitrovica, 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of the capital of Belgrade. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The rusting hull — once a famed vessel known as the Slovenian — surfaced earlier this month from the Sava River near the Serbian town of Sremska Mitrovica, 45 miles northwest of the capital of Belgrade. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rusting
  1. rotting
  2. decomposing
  3. decaying
  4. corroding
Verb
  • In the weeks after, more than 85 million pounds of rotting food being kept at the cold storage facility began to rot, leaving a putrid stench lingering over the area that led to infestations of rats, flies and other rodents.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The fire’s aftermath was just as bad, with cleanup crews having to contend with removing 89 million pounds of thawing, rotting meat, debris and other material.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of rotting
Verb
  • The evolution of land plants and the development of soil go hand in hand—as these pioneering plants, trees, and animals died and their decomposing remains were recycled on land, by fungi and the first soil invertebrates, modern soils began to form.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Even poor Maggie the cat — the only living animal in Digger’s house and possibly one of the last living animals in the world — is decomposing in his arms, his sister (Sandra Hüller) says with a shudder.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Verb
  • Park advocates have long argued that the existing city allocation is inadequate, leaving neighborhoods with decaying recreation centers, deteriorating swimming pools and filthy park bathrooms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Activating young adults Volunteers spent most of the morning clearing out years of overgrowth, decaying structures and a greenhouse gone wild.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of decaying
Verb
  • Deterioration is exacerbated if water reaches the steel rebar, corroding from inside the concrete mass and thereby weakening the integrity of the wall.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Rust often comes from corroding fasteners or nearby metal, while mold thrives on dirt and moisture buildup.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of corroding

Browse Nearby Words

rustics
rusting
rustle
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Cite this Entry

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

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