corruption

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noun

Definition of CORRUPTION

1

the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the ancient Egyptians used special preservatives to spare their dead from complete corruption>

Synonyms breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage

Related Words crumbling, disintegration, dissolution; curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring

Near Antonyms growth, maturation, ripening

2

a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the corruption of the upper classes eventually led to the fall of the Roman empire>

Synonyms abjection, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, decadency, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, demoralization, depravity, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, libertinage, libertinism, perversion, pervertedness, rakishness, turpitude

Related Words evil, immorality, sinfulness, villainy, wickedness; filth, gangrene, rot, squalor

Near Antonyms goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue

3

immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <Socrates was put to death because the ancient Athenians believed he was spreading corruption to their youth>

Synonyms corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, libertinage, libertinism, licentiousness, profligacy, sin

Related Words bad, badness, blackness, evil, evildoing, ill, turpitude, villainy, wickedness, wrong; atrociousness, evilness, heinousness, sinfulness, unscrupulousness, viciousness, vileness, villainousness; devilry (or deviltry), fiendishness; corruptness, debasement, degeneracy, degeneration, depravedness, dissoluteness, dissolution; indecency, lasciviousness, lechery, lewdness, looseness, perversion, pervertedness, wantonness; abomination, anathema, taboo (also tabu); criminality, reprehensibleness; baseness, despicableness, dirtiness, lowness, meanness; lousiness, miserableness, wretchedness

Near Antonyms good, right; honesty, honor, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness; blamelessness; chastity, innocence, perfection, pureness, purity, spotlessness; cleanness, correctness, decency, decorousness, propriety, rightness, seemliness

Antonyms morality, virtue