as in to rot
to form rust
The old car was left to rust in the yard of the abandoned house.
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Recent Examples of rust
There’s been a particular urgency lately, said Gutierrez, because the base of the sign is rusting and deteriorating.
—
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Why would Mary Todd Lincoln want to flood my basement and rust my bowflex?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The tank appeared old and rusted, and was clearly marked.
—Corey J. Murray, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This technique works if the metals are just a bit grimy, but wood ash can also be used to remove tarnish and rust, too.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Why would Mary Todd Lincoln want to flood my basement and rust my bowflex?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The tank appeared old and rusted, and was clearly marked.
—Corey J. Murray, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
This technique works if the metals are just a bit grimy, but wood ash can also be used to remove tarnish and rust, too.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rust
Verb
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Do not pile mulch against the tree’s trunk; that can cause the bark to rot.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Some family members of those whose bodies were left to rot had urged Judge Eric Bentley to impose the maximum sentence.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
-
The body was decomposed and dismembered.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Her arms and legs had been cut off, and her body was significantly decomposed, according to the report.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The primary ground point is near the thermostat housing, and over time those connections corrode and cause a wide range of problems.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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How could both a module being provided by Northrop Grumman, a major US defense contractor, and I-HAB from Europe be corroded?—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rust. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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