putrefying
Becoming foul matter
Putrefying means rotting or decaying, especially of organic matter breaking down and producing foul odors: the putrefying corpse, putrefying meat attracted flies.
The word emphasizes the active, ongoing process of decomposition rather than the end state.
Figuratively, something putrefying is corrupting or festering: a putrefying political system.
Localized cell death
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
- molderingSlowly decomposing over time
- spoilingCausing ruin or decay
disintegration · autolysis · carrion · cadaverine · sepsis · sloughing · liquefaction · corruption
Powerfully offensive odor
- fetidHaving foul odor
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
- reekEmit strong odor
- miasmaHarmful atmospheric emanation
noisome · rank · pungent · foul · nauseating · repugnant · offensive · sickening
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- maggotsLarval flies
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
anaerobic · detritivores · blowflies · carrion beetles · decomposers · mold · scavengers · larvae
Decayed organic fertilizer
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- soilGround matter for planting
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
ecosystem · recycling · breakdown · vermicomposting · earthworms · biomass · natural process · carbon cycle
necrosis
Localized cell death
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
- molderingSlowly decomposing over time
spoiling · disintegration · autolysis · carrion · cadaverine · sepsis · sloughing · liquefaction · corruption · perishing
stench
Powerfully offensive odor
- fetidHaving foul odor
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
- reekEmit strong odor
miasma · noisome · rank · pungent · foul · nauseating · repugnant · offensive · sickening · rancid
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- maggotsLarval flies
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
enzymes · anaerobic · detritivores · blowflies · carrion beetles · decomposers · mold · scavengers · larvae · microbes
compost
Decayed organic fertilizer
organic matter · ecosystem · recycling · breakdown · vermicomposting · earthworms · biomass · natural process · carbon cycle
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, eroding, crumbling
- Deteriorationdecay, rot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion
- contaminationpolluting, contaminating, fouling, tainting, poisoning
putrefyingpreserving
Protecting from deterioration
intact · wholesome · uncorrupted · sound · undecayed
rotten, rotting, putrid, decomposition, putrefy, putrefaction, putrescent, putrefied, putrescence