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"Rotting" vs. "putrid": when decay gets descriptive

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 20/08/2025, 03:55
English.me team member
Rotting and putrid. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "rotting" and "putrid" relate to decay, especially in the context of organic materials breaking down. They are often used to describe unpleasant smells and the process of decomposition.

What is different?

"Rotting" is a verb or adjective describing the process of decaying, while "putrid" is an adjective describing something that has decayed and now smells foul. "Rotting" refers more to the action or state of decay, but "putrid" emphasizes the offensive smell resulting from decomposition.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for rotting) and putrid

Examples of usage

Rotting
  • The rotting fruit attracted swarms of flies.
  • A rotting log lay on the forest floor.
  • She wrinkled her nose at the smell of rotting food.
Putrid
  • A putrid stench hung in the air.
  • The putrid water made everyone gag.
  • He couldn't stand the putrid odor coming from the garbage bin.