Synonyms of corrupt

corrupt 1 of 2

adjective

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

• degraded
• sick
• crooked
• decadent
• perverted
• depraved
• degenerate
• loose
• dishonest
• dissolute
• debased
• debauched
• warped
• unclean
• unwholesome
• perverse
• spoiled
• demoralized
• vicious
• libertine
• immoral
• evil
• reprobate
• rakish
• dissipated
• unscrupulous
• wicked
• bad
• unethical
• unprincipled
• contaminated
• cutthroat
• jackleg
• sinful
• rakehell
• bent
• tainted
• nefarious
• iniquitous
• miscreant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pure
• incorruptible
• uncorrupt
• uncorrupted
• ethical
• honest
• moral
• good
• virtuous
• principled
• righteous

corrupt

2 of 2

verb

kə-ˈrəpt 

1

as in to rot

to go through decomposition

a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rot
• decay
• disintegrate
• decompose
• perish
• spoil
• fall apart
• mold
• foul
• fester
• deteriorate
• putrefy
• crumble
• break down
• descend
• contaminate
• pollute
• go to seed
• molder
• sour
• taint
• turn
• degenerate
• defile
• rust
• ferment
• mortify
• turn off
• curdle
• dilapidate
• decline
• sink
• wither
• addle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• grow
• mature
• restore
• develop
• ripen
• age
• renew
• purify
• cleanse
• refresh
• improve
• better
• integrate
• assemble
• compose
• ameliorate
• meliorate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• degrade
• subvert
• weaken
• pervert
• poison
• deteriorate
• deprave
• destroy
• humiliate
• debauch
• dilute
• prostitute
• ruin
• dirty
• damage
• disgrace
• debase
• profane
• demean
• bastardize
• pollute
• taint
• humble
• vitiate
• demoralize
• canker
• contaminate
• warp
• abase
• shame
• hurt
• lessen
• cheapen
• mar
• harm
• thin
• impair
• water down
• wreck
• spoil
• dishonor
• defile
• tarnish
• flaw
• stain
• begrime
• befoul
• descend
• take down
• deface
• blemish
• downgrade
• depreciate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improve
• better
• uplift
• elevate
• honor
• perfect
• exalt
• enrich
• enhance
• restore
• amend
• ennoble
• clean
• ameliorate
• purify
• cleanse
• dignify
• refine
• clarify
• respect
• meliorate

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

• bribe
• seduce
• poison
• lure
• entice
• buy
• pay off
• have
• provoke
• persuade
• tempt
• get at
• square
• deprave
• subvert
• oil the hand of
• grease the hand of
• pervert
• taint
• debauch
• dishonor
• profane
• prostitute
• motivate
• debase
• degrade
• induce
• tamper (with)
• defile
• demean
• warp
• lead on
• spur
• stimulate
• abase
• bait
• allure
• trap
• beguile
• fix
• flatter
• goad
• snare

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

Recent Examples of corrupt

Adjective

Journalist Christiane Amanpour, who stepped out for the occasion in a red jacquard pantsuit by Derek Lam, echoed Clooney’s focus on providing protection for those relentlessly working to hold corrupt systems accountable. — Christie Grimm, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026

Finally, while work is underway to build a formal framework for economic espionage, Congress must prevent any creeping erosion of the existing norm through the potentially corrupt dissemination of intelligence to favored companies. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

The audience is interacting with an object that had been scanned, that had been corrupted in some way. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2026

Obama and Biden were corrupted by donors who wanted cheap labor. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026