rotten

[ rot-n ]

adjective

, rot·ten·er, rot·ten·est.

1. decomposing or decaying; putrid; tainted, foul, or bad-smelling.

   Synonyms: rank, fetid

   Antonyms: sound

2. corrupt or morally offensive.

   Synonyms: immoral

   Antonyms: moral

3. wretchedly bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory; miserable:

   a rotten piece of work; a rotten day at the office.

4. contemptible; despicable:

   a rotten little liar; a rotten trick.

   Synonyms: treacherous, unwholesome, disgusting

5. (of soil, rocks, etc.) soft, yielding, or friable as the result of decomposition.
6. Australian Slang. drunk.

rotten

/ ˈrɒtən /

adjective

1. affected with rot; decomposing, decaying, or putrid
2. breaking up, esp through age or hard use; disintegrating

   rotten ironwork

3. morally despicable or corrupt
4. untrustworthy, disloyal, or treacherous
5. informal.
   unpleasant, unfortunate, or nasty

   rotten luck

   rotten weather

6. informal.
   unsatisfactory or poor

   rotten workmanship

7. informal.
   miserably unwell
8. informal.
   distressed, uncomfortable, and embarrassed

   I felt rotten when I told him to go

9. (of rocks, soils, etc) soft and crumbling, esp as a result of weathering
10. slang.
    intoxicated; drunk

adverb

1. extremely; very much

   men fancy her rotten

Derived Forms

• ˈrottenness, noun
• ˈrottenly, adverb

Other Words From

• rotten·ly adverb
• rotten·ness noun
• half-rotten adjective
• un·rotten adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rotten¹

1175–1225; Middle English roten < Old Norse rotinn, past participle of an unrecorded verb meaning “to rot”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rotten¹

C13: from Old Norse rottin ; related to Old English rotian to rot ¹

Example Sentences

Although the troubles of our world never bled into “What We Do in the Shadows,” the story never shied away from politics within its own musty, rotten realm.

From Salon

I’m a really rotten piano player, but I’ve written quite a few songs which I think are pretty good on the piano.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the doors fell off its hinges because the woodwork was so rotten, Ben added.

From BBC

But now this bioluminescent algae is dying and releasing hydrogen sulfide gas, which causes a rotten egg smell, explained Laura Rink, associate director at Heal the Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica.

From Los Angeles Times

All these states are of course extremely close, and Harris and Walz could sweep them and put a stake in Trumpism’s rotten heart.

From Salon

Related Words

• corrupt
• disgusting
• moldy
• noxious
• overripe
• putrid
• rancid
• rotting
• sour
• spoiled
• stale