What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rotten
Example
The apple was rotten and had to be thrown away. [rotten: adjective]
Example
The company's reputation was rotten after the scandal. [rotten: adjective]
Example
The politician was accused of being rotten to the core. [rotten: adverb]
spoiled
Example
The milk had spoiled and smelled sour. [spoiled: verb]
Example
The child was spoiled by her parents and became entitled. [spoiled: adjective]
Example
The rain spoiled our picnic plans. [spoiled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spoiled is more commonly used than rotten in everyday language. Spoiled is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rotten is less common and more specific to situations involving decay or corruption.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rotten and spoiled?
Both rotten and spoiled are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
