Synonyms of rotten
120 similar words · 3 opposite words
Another word for rotten is spoiled. Other synonyms of rotten are fell, brutal, putrid, malicious and ruthless. The opposite of rotten is unspoiled.
Synonyms and similar words for rotten
adjectiveOf perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.
adjectiveIn a state of decay.
- blighted
- forworn
- putridRotting, rotten, being in a state of putrefaction.
- cankered
- decayed
- dotterelDecayed.
- moldering
- putrefacientOf, pertaining to, or causing putrefaction.
- putrefactiveOf, pertaining to, or causing putrefaction.
- putrescentBecoming putrid; putrefying.
adjectiveCruel, mean or immoral.
- fellOf a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage.
- maliciousIntending to do harm; characterized by spite and malice.
- ruthlessWithout pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.
- barbarousMercilessly or impudently violent or cruel, savage.
- brutalSavagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
- compassionlessWithout compassion; hardhearted.
- cruel
- flagitious formal
- demonic figurativelyExtremely cruel or evil; abhorrent or repugnant; diabolical.
- diabolic figurativelyWicked; evil; cruel.
- diabolical figurativelyExtremely wicked or cruel.
- incessiveFierce; cruel and aggressive.
- inhumanOf or pertaining to inhumanity and the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric behavior it brings.
- inhumane
- mercilessShowing no mercy; cruel and pitiless.
- nastySpiteful, unkind.
- nonhumaneNot humane, inhumane.
- pitilessHaving, or showing, no pity; merciless, ruthless.
- remorselessWithout remorse, mercy or pity.
- sadisticDelighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain or humiliation of others.
- savageBrutal, vicious, or merciless.
- spitefulFilled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.
- truculentCruel or savage.
- unbenevolentNot benevolent.
- unbenignNot benign; malevolent.
- unkind
- unmercifulNot showing mercy.
- unpityingNot feeling or showing pity.
- bowelless obsoleteWithout pity.
- despiteful archaicFull of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate.
- inclement obsoleteMerciless, unrelenting.
- unpitiful archaicWithout pity; pitiless.
adjectiveBad or terrible.
- awful
- foul
- horrible
- abysmal figuratively
- atrocious
- badSpoiled, rotten, overripe.
- chronic slang
- coarse
- cornyUncool, stupid, lame.
- crap slang, vulgarOf poor quality.
- crappy slang, vulgarBad, sick, or depressed.
- crummy slangBad; poor.
- direBad in quality, awful, terrible.
- disagreeable
- dismal
- dogshit vulgar
- dreadful
- fifth-rateTerrible, awful; less than fourth-rate.
- fourth-rateTerrible, awful; less than third-rate.
- godawful
- hellishCausing great pain, discomfort or distress.
- hideous
- hopeless
- horrendousExtremely bad; awful; terrible.
- horrid
- horrificCausing horror; horrifying.
- inadequateNot adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
- incompetentLacking the degree of ability and responsibility necessary to do a task successfully.
- inelegantNot elegant; not exhibiting neatness, refinement, or precision.
- intolerable
- inferiorOf low rank, standard or quality.
- lackluster
- loathsomeHighly offensive; abominable, sickening.
- lousy
- miserable
- naff slang
- negativeNot positive or neutral; bad; undesirable; unfavourable.
- odiousArousing or meriting strong dislike, aversion, or intense displeasure.
- ordinary AustraliaBad or undesirable.
- pathetic
- peakBad.
- piss-poorReflecting a low standard of workmanship or achievement; very inferior.
- rubbish Australia, colloquialExceedingly bad; awful.
- shitawful vulgarVery awful.
- shitty vulgarVery bad; unpleasant; miserable; insignificant.
- sixth-rateTerrible, awful; less than fifth-rate.
- sloppy
- subpar
- terrible
- unfavorable
- wackAnnoyingly or disappointingly bad, in various senses; lousy, corny, cringy, uncool, messed up.
- crapalicious rare, slangWorthless; bad.
- deityforsaken humorous, rareGodforsaken; particularly bad or terrible.
adjectiveOf stone or rock, crumbling or friable; in a loose or disintegrated state.
- crumblyEasy to break into small fragments; brittle or friable.
- crumblesomeCharacterised or marked by crumbling.
- frickle
adjectiveVery drunk, intoxicated.
- munted
- paraVery drunk.
- pelootheredDrunk, thoroughly intoxicated.
- Adrian Quist AustraliaPissed (drunk).
- adrip US
- aled upDrunk.
- all mops and broomsIntoxicated; drunk.
- arseholedDrunk.
- a sheet in the windDrunk.
- a sheet in the wind's eyeDrunk.
- bedrunkenDrunken, drunk.
- befuddled
- beliquoredDrunken.
- besotted
- besotten
- bevviedDrunk.
- bibaciousAddicted to drinking alcohol; alcoholic.
- bibulous
- binned
Opposite of rotten
Meaning of rotten
- adjective Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.
- adjective In a state of decay.
- adjective Cruel, mean or immoral.
rotten in other languages
Questions about synonyms of rotten
- What is another word for rotten?
- Rotten has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as spoiled, fell, brutal, putrid, malicious, ruthless, inhuman and sadistic.
- What is the opposite of rotten?
- The opposite of rotten is unspoiled.
- What does rotten mean?
- Rotten means of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: rotten (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of rotten.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/rotten. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.