putrid

adjective

pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd How to pronounce putrid (audio)
Synonyms of putridnext
1
a
: being in a state of putrefaction : rotten
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of putrefaction : foul
a putrid odor
2
a
: morally corrupt
b
: totally objectionable
putridity
pyü-ˈtri-də-tē How to pronounce putrid (audio)
noun
putridly
ˈpyü-trəd-lē How to pronounce putrid (audio)
adverb

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for putrid

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling.

malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

Examples of putrid in a Sentence

a putrid shade of green the putrid remains of a dead raccoon on the side of the highway
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Former All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles feels for Saleh, who had to take over and watch putrid quarterback play for the large bulk of his tenure there, including Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and others. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 9 Oct. 2024 Takeaways: After a putrid start for the offense, the second half of the day was much, much better. —Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024 Instead, Brundle slowly morphs into a housefly with some pretty putrid habits and a tendency to randomly lose body parts. —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024 The Sharks gave up an average of 27.2 scoring chances per game last season on their way to that putrid 19-54-9 record. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for putrid 

Word History

Etymology

Latin putridus, from putrēre to be rotten, from puter, putris rotten; akin to Latin putēre to stink — more at foul entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of putrid was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near putrid

putrescine

putrid

putrifacted

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Putrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/putrid. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

putrid

adjective
pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd How to pronounce putrid (audio)
1
a
: being in a state of putrefaction : rotten
putrid meat
b
: characteristic of putrefaction : foul
a putrid odor
2
: morally objectionable

Medical Definition

putrid

adjective
pu·​trid ˈpyü-trəd How to pronounce putrid (audio)
1
: being in a state of putrefaction
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of putrefaction
a putrid odor

More from Merriam-Webster on putrid

Nglish: Translation of putrid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of putrid for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...