1
as in decomposition
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degradation
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in immorality
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corruption
Under existing law, lawmakers can lose their pensions if convicted of a federal crime that relates to public corruption, espionage, treason or several other national security offenses.
—
Anna Liss-Roy The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 27 Apr. 2026
As head of the criminal division, Glockner oversaw cases involving financial fraud, public corruption, cybercrime, national security and violent crime, according to a release from his former employer, Exelon.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
As the city's inspector general, Glockner would lead the city's top watchdog agency, tasked with investigating corruption, waste, and fraud at all levels of city government.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
But then Johnson pivoted to corruption, a touchy subject in Mexico.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Anna Liss-Roy The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 27 Apr. 2026
As head of the criminal division, Glockner oversaw cases involving financial fraud, public corruption, cybercrime, national security and violent crime, according to a release from his former employer, Exelon.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
As the city's inspector general, Glockner would lead the city's top watchdog agency, tasked with investigating corruption, waste, and fraud at all levels of city government.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
But then Johnson pivoted to corruption, a touchy subject in Mexico.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
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Use in hydrogen transportation The five-metal nanocrystals have proven effective in accelerating ammonia decomposition, a process vital for the hydrogen energy economy.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
Eckenrode, a retired FBI forensic scientist and expert in human decomposition, joined them in 2021.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
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But the Longwood bear’s girth illustrates both the natural world’s resilience and its degradation.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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However, the degradation efficiency of individual Bacillus strain and the single-enzyme system remains limited.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Following this tendency might finally cure us not only of indigestion but also the ancient immorality of eating other organisms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
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Consider this evilmeister’s brazen acts of treason and revenge, unbounded deceit, swinish immorality and negative role modeling.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Decadence is sensuality and impotence, opulence and decay.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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The human brain’s neurons experience similar modes of decay, and so, too, do our downstream behaviors.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Noun
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And, as a heterosexual couple, wasn’t living in sin our final, sole, tiny act of rebellion?—
Eva Wiseman,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
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Pushing a pill was not the company’s worst sin — marketing was.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Ranked-choice voting would increase the chances of electing people whom voters are for, rather than the lesser of two evils.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Inevitably, team evil has cooler powers, like Sindel’s scream and Kung Lao’s hat of doom, but in addition to allotting an inordinate amount of its combat time to Shao Kahn, who’s just a hulking guy with a hammer, the movie’s big visual idea is characters blasting one another with beams.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.—
William Earl,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corruption. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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