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 Previous Evil pics have been rotten on Rotten Tomatoes with critics. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for rotten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotten

Adjective

Caleb Bowlin / Getty Images A good night in New York totally spoiled?

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
At some point in the last few days, Henry (Hudson Williams), the spoiled 22-year-old scion of a fish processing magnate, has disappeared from his giant mansion perched at the edge of a Canadian island.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of spoiled

Adjective

What Baldwin is lamenting is our tendency to fall back on binaries — right and wrong, good and evil — rather than to struggle with complexity.

— David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
It's based on a Russian fairy tale called the Firebird, which is about a young prince who rescues a coterie of princesses from an evil sorcerer.

— Libby Smith, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of evil

Adjective

Other research suggests trypophobic people find hole clusters as unpleasant as pictures of skin disease and that people with a history of skin problems may find hole clusters particularly uncomfortable to look at.

— Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
That is followed by one focused on exploring conventional notions of beauty by uncovering the unexpected draw of unpleasant scents with Naïla Hamayed, Givaudan’s fragrance evaluator.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

His teams are terrible just before halftime, having been outscored 107-6 in the coach's 24 games.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
If the purpose of buying a suit were merely obtaining clothing, three fittings would be terrible service.

— Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

Disease that has spread to those organs is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.

— James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

And in a world increasingly populated by people who are absolutely certain that everyone who disagrees with them is either ignorant or immoral, our universities could use considerably more of all three.

— Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of immoral

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 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rotten

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes