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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Two former Chinese defense ministers have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption, in one of the most severe punishments handed down to senior military officials in recent years.
—
Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Democrats are making a concerted effort to connect denial of the 2020 outcome to broader themes such as corruption, economic anxiety and insider dealing.
—Arkansas Online, 11 May 2026
On Saturday, Hungary got a new premier who has pledged to unwind the corruption of his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
—Slav Okov, Bloomberg, 11 May 2026
McMorris also said corruption indictments and convictions have played a significant role in City Council turnover over the last several election cycles.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Democrats are making a concerted effort to connect denial of the 2020 outcome to broader themes such as corruption, economic anxiety and insider dealing.
—Arkansas Online, 11 May 2026
On Saturday, Hungary got a new premier who has pledged to unwind the corruption of his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
—Slav Okov, Bloomberg, 11 May 2026
McMorris also said corruption indictments and convictions have played a significant role in City Council turnover over the last several election cycles.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
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Excessive fly activity indicates decomposition is already underway, at which point the fruit's condition is as much the concern as the flies themselves.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
-
Brian Eckenrode, a retired FBI forensic scientist and expert in human decomposition, joined them in 2021.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The move was widely seen as an effort to reassure consumers that ultra-fast charging technology would not result in excessive long-term battery degradation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
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But experts believe environmental degradation caused by climate change and human activity is contributing to its spread by allowing the rodents that transmit the virus to thrive in new areas.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Following this tendency might finally cure us not only of indigestion but also the ancient immorality of eating other organisms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Consider this evilmeister’s brazen acts of treason and revenge, unbounded deceit, swinish immorality and negative role modeling.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That may be fine for downtown, but none of us in North County signed on for the kind of problems that high density brings — urban decay, crime, traffic and unaffordable housing.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Advertisement Just as Nietzsche warned of the dangers of a nihilist moral void leading to societal decay, the current disregard for responsible data practices could erode trust in institutions and perpetuate systemic inequalities.—
Alice Xiang,
Time,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Her chief lieutenants in this operation are Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Sid (Henry Cavill), who specialize in intimidation, surveillance, bribery, and other assorted sins.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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First-time filmmakers can usually be forgiven some of these sins, only most viewers might not realize that this is Luna’s fifth go in the director’s chair.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Why something with the punch of classical tragedy — love destroyed from within by an inexplicable streak of evil — had to be so over-egged is baffling.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
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East of Eden also features Cathy — 2026’s second evil-ish Cathy — who is played by Florence Pugh in the miniseries and has some of the novel’s best scenes and lines.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 May 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 16 May. 2026.
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