putrid
Americanadjective
-
in a state of foul decay or decomposition, as animal or vegetable matter; rotten.
-
of, relating to, or attended by putrefaction.
-
having the odor of decaying flesh.
- Synonyms:
- fetid
-
thoroughly corrupt, depraved, or evil.
- Synonyms:
- immoral
-
of very low quality; rotten.
adjective
-
(of organic matter) in a state of decomposition, usually giving off a foul smell
putrid meat
-
morally corrupt or worthless
-
sickening; foul
a putrid smell
-
informal deficient in quality or value
a putrid film
Other Word Forms
- putridity noun
- putridly adverb
- putridness noun
- unputrid adjective
- unputridity noun
- unputridly adverb
- unputridness noun
Etymology
Origin of putrid
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin putridus rotten, equivalent to putr ( ēre ) to rot + -idus -id 4
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Overall viewership for Milan Cortina has doubled the putrid Beijing numbers of four years ago, according to NBC, setting up these Winter Games to be the most-watched in a decade.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026
"Noam. I d love your advice on how I handle my putrid press," Epstein wrote, adding that media coverage was "spiralling out of control".
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
For years, they pumped the putrid fluids deep into the ground—and triggered hundreds of earthquakes, some with a magnitude of over 5.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
Colorful murals and graffiti adorn the walls near the mess of burst-open watermelons and putrid lemons.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2025
I imagine my face a beautiful shade of putrid green when I’m finished, but I’m proud of my triumph.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
