rotting 1 of 3

Definition of rottingnext

rotting

2 of 3

noun

rotting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rot
1
2

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 rotting
Verb
Smokers who smelled a mix of cigarettes and rotting fish overnight subsequently reduced their cigarette consumption by more than thirty per cent—more than people who smelled the pairing while awake. Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026 Trim any rotting roots and damaged foliage, and repot the plant in a clean pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026 The showy blooms that cover the tree also emit a foul odor, often described as reminiscent of rotting fish. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026 That was until the FBI notified my elder son that his father lay rotting among so many others. Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 Early harvesting prevents fruit from rotting and ensures better use of your tomatoes. Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026 Avoid storing cauliflower next to produce that produce ethylene gas (such as apples, melons, peaches, plums, pears, or mangoes), which will speed up the ripening (and eventual rotting) process. Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 The car was impounded the previous week after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, where neighbors complained of a rotting smell. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 In fact, many teens seem to have deep concerns over AI chatbots rotting their frontal lobes. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotting
Adjective
  • Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In detectors filled with liquid argon, the decay of this isotope creates signals that can look deceptively similar to the ones scientists are searching for.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Some formulas can remove surface stains caused by coffee, smoking or wine, while others address tougher stains caused by decay, age or genetics.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The poll also points to broader economic malaise; 55% of Americans say recent price increases have led to financial hardship, and the same number say their financial situation is deteriorating.
    Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In all cases, companies are reporting a surge in oil trading activity, tempered somewhat by the deteriorating outlook for natural gas production, stemming from Iranian air strikes severely damaging crucial gas production sites in the Gulf.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Carie Hallford was sentenced to 30 years for her role in a scheme that involved hiding nearly 200 decomposing bodies.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The autopsy was performed in September 2025, days after the body was found decomposing in the Tesla's trunk at a Hollywood tow yard, but the results were ordered sealed by a judge as the Los Angeles Police Department and the county's District Attorney's Office built their case.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Winter storms left its gazebo teetering, 50 feet of asphalt crumbling, and a dramatic 6 foot drop down to the sand.
    Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The media covers it as a flash fire, not as a symptom of more dry rot in the crumbling of decorum and decency.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Many Americans feel financially squeezed — over half say their finances are worsening, according to a recent Gallup poll, the highest since 2001.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 1 May 2026
  • However, many of his former clients later sued him on allegations of fraud and several of them have criticized him for allegedly worsening the boxing climate.
    PEOPLE, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There was nothing quaint about the making of Apocalypse Now, for which Tavoularis created a nightmarish jungle kingdom with a decaying temple — inspired by the ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia — as its centerpiece.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
  • By removing the decaying cells created by the high-salt diet, the drug allowed the remaining healthy tissue to maintain its elasticity and respond correctly to blood flow demands.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Discard any that look dead or decayed.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
    Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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