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
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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
There’s also a third, less obvious way in which the court’s decision helps preserve the Republic — by limiting opportunities for corruption.
—
David French, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
The re-emergence of his former chief military commander and the separate news of a massive corruption scandal implicating close associates have further weakened Zelenskyy’s standing at home.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
The themes of money, power, corruption and sacrifice remain as the show's universe gets more complex, and the layers of the mystery of the bunker are peeled back even further.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But controversial government efforts to redress inequalities have been plagued by corruption and cronyism.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
David French, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
The re-emergence of his former chief military commander and the separate news of a massive corruption scandal implicating close associates have further weakened Zelenskyy’s standing at home.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
The themes of money, power, corruption and sacrifice remain as the show's universe gets more complex, and the layers of the mystery of the bunker are peeled back even further.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But controversial government efforts to redress inequalities have been plagued by corruption and cronyism.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
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Sometimes compost becomes too acidic during decomposition, Ivanov says—fireplace ash helps neutralize this acidity.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, adding brown material like toilet paper tubes will even speed up the decomposition process and balance out your green kitchen waste.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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However, the often suffer from limited infrared absorption, angular sensitivity, high manufacturing costs, and thermal degradation over long-term thermal exposure.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2026
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There were no clear signs of structural or chemical degradation in the atom-thin layer.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This approach can be applied to any behavior, including crime and immorality.—
Christopher M. Filley,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
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Forehand, in his own words, explains to NBC News the before, during and after of the trick that could give him Olympic immorality.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In that respect, Wolfram is a masterful merger of merger of serious social comment and taut, thrilling action, a film where base human cruelty is always somewhere on the horizon, a film that simply reeks of death and decay (there are more flies than Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia).—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
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Where analysts differ is on what those changes ultimately represent — whether a pragmatic path toward recovery, an incomplete liberalization constrained by PDVSA’s institutional decay, or a historic surrender of oil sovereignty under foreign oversight.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Reading Nicholas Mosley’s nonfiction reveals a writer concerned with the sins of the past, with political maneuvering at the highest levels of government, and of personal and ideological betrayals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
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Robert Bresson, in seeking the essence of sin and grace in the slightest gesture, largely eschewed professionals in order to distill performance to embodiment.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Is there a lesser of two evils?—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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His only way of finding any kind of life for himself is to embrace evil, to stop running away from it, to try to stop morally flagellating himself.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 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 1 Mar. 2026.
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