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corrupt

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of corrupt

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 of corrupt

debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped
Words Related to corrupt

crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

contaminated, spoiled, tainted

bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
Near Antonyms of corrupt

incorruptible

ethical, honest, principled

good, moral, righteous, virtuous
Antonyms of corrupt

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted

Synonym Discussion of corrupt

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct. vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.
    • a vicious gangster
villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.
    • a villainous assault
iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.
    • an iniquitous system of taxation
nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.
    • the nefarious rackets of organized crime
corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.
    • city hall was rife with corrupt politicians
degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.
    • a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

corrupt

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of corrupt

1 to go through decomposition
  • A dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell.
Synonyms of corrupt

break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil
Words Related to corrupt

sour, turn

contaminate, defile, pollute, taint

addle, curdle, ferment

mortify

rust

crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither
Phrases Synonymous with corrupt

fall apart, go to seed (or run to seed)
Near Antonyms of corrupt

age, develop, grow, mature, ripen

refresh, renew, restore

cleanse, purify

assemble, compose, integrate

ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality
  • the adage that power corrupts honest people
Synonyms of corrupt

abase, cheapen, debase, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
Words Related to corrupt

befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken

descend

disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down

blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck

depreciate, downgrade
Near Antonyms of corrupt

dignify, exalt, honor

ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect

clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore

respect
Antonyms of corrupt

elevate, ennoble, uplift
3 to influence someone with a bribe
  • He bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council.
Synonyms of corrupt

bribe, buy, have, pay off, square
Words Related to corrupt

fix, tamper (with)

abase, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, dishonor, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, taint, warp

allure, bait, beguile, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt

motivate, provoke, spur, stimulate

goad, induce

flatter, persuade

snare, trap
Phrases Synonymous with corrupt

get at, grease the hand of (or grease the palm of), oil the hand of (or oil the palm of)

Synonym Discussion of corrupt

debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character. debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.
    • commercialism has debased the holiday
vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.
    • a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship
deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.
    • the claim that society is depraved by pornography
corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.
    • the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language
debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.
    • the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew
pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.
    • perverted the original goals of the institute

Learn More about corrupt

  1. See words that rhyme with corrupt Dictionary: Definition of corrupt Spanish Central: Translation of corrupt Nglish: Translation of corrupt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of corrupt for Arabic speakers

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