Rotten — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Rotten (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. having undergone organic breakdown

   "rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out"

   similar: addled, bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, spoiled
   related: curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned, contaminated, defiled, fouled, impure, polluted, tainted, corroded, crumbled, degenerated, deteriorated, disintegrated, decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting, gangrenous
   opposite: undecomposed
   near: fresh, good, sweet, preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched

2. not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable

   "played a rotten trick and then lied about it"

   similar: bad, dark, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, sinful, unethical, unlawful, unrighteous, unsavory, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked, wrong
   related: base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean, snide, sordid, atrocious, cruel, infamous, nasty, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, objectionable, obscene, offensive, reprehensible, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, low-minded, perverted, reprobate, scrofulous, sick, unhealthy, cursed, cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome, banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean, disallowed, execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched, errant, erring, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar, dishonest, dishonorable
   opposite: decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous
   near: elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous, allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, clean, correct, decent, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly, blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless, chaste, immaculate, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, lily-white, perfect, pure, spotless, squeaky-clean, uncorrupted, unerring, unfallen, unobjectionable, venerable, white, wholesome, esteemed, respected, upstanding, worthy

3. not giving pleasure to the mind or senses

   "had a rotten time while on vacation"

   similar: bad, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, harsh, icky, nasty, sour, uncongenial, unlovely, unpalatable, unpleasant, unpleasing, unsavory, unwelcome, wicked, yucky
   related: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, beastly, bilious, disgusting, dreadful, foul, ghastly, gnarly (slang), god-awful, gross, hateful, hellish, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, revulsive, scandalous, seamy, shocking, sick, sickening, ugly, unholy, vile, villainous, aggravating, annoying, galling, irritating, vexing, crappy (slang), cruddy, crummy, lousy, miserable, sucky (slang), wretched
   opposite: agreeable, congenial, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome
   near: delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous, amiable, charming, cheery, friendly, jolly, kindly, sweet

4. extremely unsatisfactory

   "rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate"

   similar: abysmal, atrocious, awful, dismal, execrable, horrible, lousy, punk, sucky (slang), terrible, wretched
   related: bad, deficient, inferior, off, poor, substandard, wanting, contemptible, miserable, shameful, defective, faulty, flawed, low-grade, mediocre, reprehensible, second-rate, bum, useless, valueless, worthless, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, abominable, damnable, fiendish, odious, vile
   opposite: bitchin' (slang), great, marvelous, wonderful
   near: choice, excellent, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, premium, prime, superior, adequate, sufficient, acceptable, satisfactory

5. of low quality

   "I can't do anything with these rotten tools"

   similar: bad, bargain-basement, bum, cheap, cheapjack, cheesy, coarse, common, crappy (slang), cut-rate, el cheapo, execrable, gimcrack, inferior, junky, lousy, low-grade, low-rent, mediocre, miserable, poor, rubbishy, schlock, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, terrible, trashy, trumpery, wretched
   related: useless, valueless, worthless, indifferent, lackluster, second-class, brummagem, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, kitsch, kitschy, meretricious, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank, tawdry, seedy, shabby, tacky, counterfeit, fake, phony, sham, supercheap, ultracheap
   opposite: excellent, fine, first-class, first-rate, good, high-grade, superior, top-notch
   near: elegant, handsome, tasteful, handcrafted, polished, refined