rotten
3 antonyms and opposites of rotten, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Decayed and spoiled, especially of food.
Antonyms
How to use rotten
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old Norse rotinn, "decayed," related to Old English rotian — the same root behind the verb "rot."
Full origin of rotten →Frequently asked questions
What does “rotten” mean?
The word “rotten” means decayed and spoiled, especially of food. In plain terms, decayed, or (informally) morally bad or just plain unpleasant.
How do you pronounce “rotten”?
“Rotten” is pronounced ROTN (/ˈɹɑtn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “rotten” in a sentence?
Here is “rotten” used in a sentence: “The fridge smelled of rotten eggs.”
What is another word for “rotten”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rotten” include bad, gone bad, gone off, maggoted and spoiled.
What is the opposite of “rotten”?
The opposite of “rotten” — its antonyms — are edible, fresh and unspoiled.
What part of speech is “rotten”?
“Rotten” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rotten” come from?
The word “rotten” comes from Old English. From Old Norse rotinn, "decayed," related to Old English rotian — the same root behind the verb "rot.".
Is “rotten” a common word?
“Rotten” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between rotten and spoiled food?
Rotten food is decayed and spoiled through decomposition, usually showing visible signs like mold, discoloration, or a foul smell. Spoiled is a broader term that can also cover food that has simply gone stale or lost freshness without full decay, so all rotten food is spoiled, but not all spoiled food is rotten.
Is calling someone rotten an insult?
Yes, describing a person as rotten means they are morally bad, cruel, or dishonest, so it functions as a strong criticism of their character. It is informal and typically used in casual speech rather than formal writing.
When is rotten used informally instead of literally?
In informal speech, rotten is often used to describe something very unpleasant or of poor quality, as in a rotten day or rotten luck, without any connection to actual decay. This figurative use is common in everyday conversation across English-speaking countries.