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Rotten vs Lousy - What's the difference?

rotten | lousy |

As a noun rotten

is .

As an adjective lousy is

remarkably bad; of poor quality, dirty, or underhanded; mean, contemptible.

rotten

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.
  • If you leave a bin unattended for a few weeks, the rubbish inside will turn rotten .
  • In a state of decay.
  • The floors were damaged and the walls were rotten .
    His mouth stank and his teeth were rotten .
  • Cruel, mean or immoral.
  • That man is a rotten father.
    This rotten policy will create more injustice in this country.
  • Bad or terrible.
  • Why is the weather always rotten in this city?
    It was a rotten idea to take the boat out today.
    She has the flu and feels rotten .

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "rotten" is often applied: wood, food, egg, meat, fruit, tomato, apple, banana, milk, vegetable, stuff, tooth, smell, person, kid, bastard, scoundrel, weather.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • To an extreme degree.
  • That kid is spoilt rotten .
    The girls fancy him something rotten .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    lousy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Remarkably bad; of poor quality, dirty, or underhanded; mean, contemptible.
  • * No offense, but your cooking is lousy .
  • Infested with lice.
  • (colloquial) Filled or packed with something.
  • * The place was lousy with students .
  • * She's lousy with credit cards, goes shopping every day!
  • Usage notes

    Prior to World War II, it was an offensive insult, implying filthiness. Now considered a mild or rather dated term.

    Derived terms

    * lousy evil