corrupt 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of corruptnext
as in degraded
having or showing lowered moral character or standards corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public corrupt business practices that should be investigated

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

corrupt

2 of 2

verb

kə-ˈrəpt How to pronounce corrupt (audio)
1
as in to rot
to go through decomposition a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality some observers believe that grossly violent movies corrupt the people who watch them as well as the people who make them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to bribe
to influence someone with a bribe he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective corrupt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of corrupt are degenerate, iniquitous, nefarious, vicious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

When might degenerate be a better fit than corrupt?

The meanings of degenerate and corrupt largely overlap; however, degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When is iniquitous a more appropriate choice than corrupt?

Although the words iniquitous and corrupt have much in common, iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

In what contexts can nefarious take the place of corrupt?

The synonyms nefarious and corrupt are sometimes interchangeable, but nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

When would vicious be a good substitute for corrupt?

While in some cases nearly identical to corrupt, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

When can villainous be used instead of corrupt?

While the synonyms villainous and corrupt are close in meaning, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of corrupt
Adjective
In 1938, voters ousted the ignominiously corrupt Frank Shaw, electing reformer Fletcher Bowron in his place. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025 The issue of this corrupt bargain is currently before the Southern District federal court in the context of the government’s motion to temporarily dismiss. — Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
Most baffling of all, Ye claimed that fake children had been installed in his home to corrupt his children. — Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025 Even officials who gangs haven’t corrupted are part of hopelessly underresourced departments. — Matthew Bremner, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrupt
  1. degraded
  2. rot
  3. degrade
  4. bribe
  5. sick
  6. decay
  7. subvert
  8. crooked
Adjective
  • Meier is among the authors of a WWF report that outlines steps towards restoring, conserving, and sustainably managing grasslands, and urges for them to be included in global UN targets aiming to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems and 30% of terrestrial and aquatic environments by 2030.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Tragically, the Chesapeake remains significantly degraded and its overall water quality has improved only marginally after 41 years.
    — Gerald Winegrad, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025
Definition of degraded
Verb
  • The story revolves around a town where the inhabitants have been mysteriously disappearing and rumours abound that there are ghosts under the lake eating human heads and leaving the rotting corpses floating on the water’s surface.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Check to make sure the soil isn't soggy or too wet, as this can lead to bulbs rotting.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of rot
Verb
  • Israeli forces began military ground operations in Gaza, particularly the Hamas stronghold of Rafah in an effort to degrade the terror group's infrastructure, authorities said Thursday.
    — Louis Casiano, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • And even roofs that are still relatively young may begin to show signs of weakness — the sealant that holds asphalt shingles in place often begins to degrade after a decade and can fail when pummeled with high winds.
    — Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • Tom Seidler, now the Padres’ vice president of community and international impact, bribed John’s 10-year-old son to work on his dad regarding the ubiquitous Petco park chant.
    — Kevin Acee, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Sure, Zachary Beck has had his business absorbed into that of a more violent and ruthless arms merchant, but his sins are far worse than just bribing customs officials to avoid import duties on rugs or whatever.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of bribe
Adjective
  • Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum Tracy Morgan caused a temporary delay at Monday night's NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat after the actor and comedian got sick in his courtside seat during the second half, and later sharing an update on his condition from a hospital bed.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Nearly 95 people got sick during a norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line ship, the cruise line’s fourth this year.
    — Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of sick
Verb
  • What doesn’t decay this winter can be mulched up next spring.
    — Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Sep. 2022
  • In particular, many theorists have wondered how the great complexity of life can be reconciled with the laws of thermodynamics that suggest that all systems must inevitably decay to a state of greatest disorder.
    — The Physics arXiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2022
Definition of decay
Verb
  • Another artist new to me was Summer Wheat at the Nazarian/Curcio booth whose paintings subvert traditional representation of women and look like textiles but is actually paint applied through a rigorous process.
    — Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In the past decade, some liberals and progressives have ignored or even worked to subvert free-speech norms, a matter that has been extensively covered in the press.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of subvert
Adjective
  • The people here prefer to be crooked while pretending to be holy.
    — Colm Tóibín, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
  • My tween self wrote a letter to myself stating that my ideal person would have a crooked smile, a sense of humor, honest eyes and a creative palate.
    — Lisa Stardust, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Definition of crooked

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Cite this Entry

“Corrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrupt. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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