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rotten definition

rot·ten (rät′'n)

adjective

  1. in a decayed or decomposed state; spoiled, putrefied, tainted, etc.
  2. having a bad odor because of decomposition or decay; putrid; foul-smelling
  3. morally corrupt or offensive; dishonest, open to bribery, etc.
  4. unsound or weak, as if decayed within
  5. soft or easily broken as because of decomposition; friable: said of rocks, ice, etc.
  6. Slang very bad, unsatisfactory, nasty, etc.

Etymology: ME roten < ON rotinn < IE *reud- < base *reu-, to tear, rip open (> rude): prob. used orig. of flax left to soak and rot

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rotten Synonyms

rotten

modif.

  1. Having rotted

    bad, rotting, putrifying, decaying, putrescent, putrified, spoiled, decomposed, decayed, offensive, disgusting, rancid, sour, feculent, purulent, pustular, rank, foul, corrupt, polluted, infected, loathsome, overripe, bad-smelling, putrid, tainted, crumbled, disintegrated, stale, noisome, smelling, fetid, mephitic, noxious.

    Antonyms fresh*, unspoiled*, good. *

  2. Not sound

    unsound, defective, rotted, crumbling, corroded, rusted, diseased, marred, impaired, bruised, injured, shaky, tottering, deteriorated, wasted, withering; see also crumbly, weak 2.

    Antonyms strong*, sound*, healthy. *

  3. Corrupt

    dishonest, vitiated, base, low, contemptible, hateful, despicable, detestable, mean, nasty, scurvy, crooked, unscrupulous, unethical, immoral, vile, lowdown*, good-for-nothing*; see also dishonest 1, 2, wicked 1.

    Antonyms honest, ethical, scrupulous.

  4. *Very bad

    unsatisfactory, unpleasant, disagreeable, lousy*; see offensive 2, poor 2, unsatisfactory.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rotten Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • pretty: Presented with some pretty rotten adult examples, the need for good dialog with young people is important.

Preposition: at

  • heart: Thu 18 August 2005 @ 08:44 Comment from: Gerald [ Visitor ] Something has gone rotten at the heart of our constitutional system.

Modifies a noun

  • boro: God's curse seems to be upon most of these rotten boroughs.

Used with adjective complement

  • spoil: He spent the rest of the day in our control center being spoilt rotten.

Preposition: in

  • state: There is something rotten in the state of Britain.
rotten usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"rotten." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rotten>

APA Style

rotten. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rotten

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