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corrupt

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verb

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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
Societies and political systems are built differently, with different enablers of and restraints on corrupt practices. Michael Johnston, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025 Out of seven million people in Massachusetts who didn’t murder John O’Keefe, she was selected by the corrupt cops in Norfolk County to be framed for his murder. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Without proper identity governance, compromised AI agents can operate undetected, extracting sensitive data or corrupting core processes. Arun Shrestha, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 While calling to support and maintain the current ACIP structure and processes, the AMA's emergency resolution also indicated that the association will try to establish an ACIP alternative if the CDC's advisory committee becomes corrupted by Kennedy. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for corrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrupt
Adjective
  • Smoke and particle pollution, primarily traced to wildfires burning in Canada, contributed to the degraded air quality, which officials said may persist until at least Thursday.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
  • On top of software setbacks, the OP said the vehicle's battery had to be replaced, but with a degraded unit that reduced range by 30 miles overnight.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Calcium-rich eggshells can be added to gardens and houseplant soil to prevent issues like blossom end rot and support plants with higher-than-average calcium needs, such as most nightshades, brassicas, and peperomia.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2025
  • The cherry fruit flies are known to cause damage and rot that renders the fruit unmarketable.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • Although Israel did not fully eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, its air campaign delayed, degraded, and deterred Iran’s ambitions, and further transformed the Middle East’spolitical landscape.
    DAVID A. DEPTULA, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2025
  • They are also believed to degrade water quality, which can hurt sensitive organisms like freshwater mussels.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Often in host countries with poor governance a gray economy emerges where undocumented migrants must bribe venal officials for documentation to live or work.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
  • That plan proved ill-fated, however, when he got caught trying to bribe a city official.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Prater has a sick fascination with serial killers, collecting their trophies and even inviting the most notorious of them to gatherings at his mansion.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The nerve-rattling new A24 drama from writer-director Mary Bronstein, in theaters Oct. 10, stars Byrne, 46, as Linda — a therapist with mental health struggles, a wife to an absent husband and mother to their sick daughter.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.
    Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The lineup features dramas, comedies, documentaries, thrillers, horror science fiction and several films that subvert the conventions of genre like Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind and Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Both Smith and former Attorney General Merrick Garland repeatedly maintained prior to departing office that none of the actions taken in either the classified documents investigation or the probe of Trump's efforts to subvert his 2020 election loss were driven by politics.
    Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The radio-wavelength image shows that the black hole’s jet is not straight, but is crooked with three distinct bends.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • In one image, Scales, who had won a Military Cross for his bravery at the front, wears a crooked grimace that suggests recent anguish.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Corrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrupt. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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