corrupt 1 of 2

Definition of corruptnext

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
The soccer gods, inherently fickle and usually corrupt, actually rewarded that blind devotion. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 June 2026 Key Facts Citizen Vigilante, which was released last week in theaters, is a movie set in Europe that depicts its leading character as a vigilante who has taken it upon himself to kill criminal immigrants and corrupt government officials. Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
The Arch of Nero both honored republicanism and warned that it was being corrupted by the war and, inevitably, its aftermath. Tyler Green, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 At first, the gorgeous ripe berries are evidence of how perfect our planet can be, corrupted only by the selfish impulses of a human race that’s largely uninterested in caring for anything on it when there isn’t a profit to be made. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for corrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrupt
Adjective
  • Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study.
    Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026
  • According to the company, QTT enables highly secure and resilient position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, helping maintain accurate timing and synchronization even when traditional GPS and radio-frequency signals are unavailable, degraded, or intentionally jammed.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026
  • The old deck was rotting and had trees growing up through it.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • This involves sealing all cracks, crevices and entry points with materials that won't degrade over time.
    Alora Bopray, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Batteries degrade, actuators wear out, sensors drift, and every safety case has to hold.
    Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Undercover recordings allegedly captured Owens detailing how public officials could be bribed and how the illicit funds could be laundered through businesses and campaign donations, the outlet reported.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • They are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly bribing Beasley to manipulate his performance.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 22 June 2026
  • Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Phorid flies lay their eggs in decaying organic matter and thrive in places where moisture is present.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 28 June 2026
  • Little filth flies such as drain flies breed in sludge and decaying matter that can build up in drain pipes, says Oi.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
  • Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.
    Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Warnock writes that his belief that the crooked places in America will be made straight keeps him motivated even on tough days at the Capitol.
    Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 June 2026
  • And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Corrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrupt. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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