What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
addled
Example
The politician's addled response left the audience confused. [addled: adjective]
Example
I accidentally left the eggs out too long, and now they're addled. [addled: adjective]
Example
He stumbled out of the bar, addled from too much alcohol. [addled: verb]
rotten
Example
The smell of rotten fruit filled the kitchen. [rotten: adjective]
Example
The wooden fence was old and rotten, falling apart in places. [rotten: adjective]
Example
The corrupt politician was exposed for his rotten deeds. [rotten: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rotten is more commonly used than addled in everyday language. Rotten is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while addled is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between addled and rotten?
Both addled and rotten are informal words, but rotten can be used in more formal contexts when describing decayed or spoiled food.
