corruption

noun

kə-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce corruption (audio)
Definition of corruptionnext
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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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

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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

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 corruption In June, dozens of political officials were arrested on corruption charges, including members of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Shiite political bloc and others from the Azm Alliance. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 Flávio Bolsonaro is under investigation by Brazil’s Supreme Court, accused of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. — Daniel Kozin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 The messages, along with public corruption and the government’s faltering response to Hurricane María, brought thousands into the streets. — Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Bolsonaro is under investigation by the Brazil Supreme Court for alleged corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
  1. decomposition
  2. degradation
  3. immorality
  4. decay
  5. sin
  6. evil
  7. sinfulness
  8. evilness
Noun
  • In August 2026, investigators discovered 55 bodies in various states of decomposition inside South Chicago Chapel.
    — Dave Savini, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators found no identification at the scene, and extreme decomposition prevented them from obtaining DNA from the bodies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of decomposition
Noun
  • In the small-cap space, Piper Sandler's Tenthoff likes Monte Rosa Therapeutics, a pioneer in protein degradation that selectively destroys disease-causing proteins.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The degradation of Starshield is estimated to have cost Ukraine tens of millions of dollars in losses, according to an analysis by Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone pilot and analyst in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of degradation
Noun
  • Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).
    — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Definition of immorality
Noun
  • But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • About 1 in 5 adults ages 20 to 64 has at least one untreated cavity, and nearly all adults 65 and older have dealt with tooth decay at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Confession is looked at as some kind of sin and it’s associated with shame.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lamb, who was once floated for the service’s top job, treats his current position as a kind of penance for past sins, both for himself and for his underlings.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Because God is omnipotent, evil, the opposite of God, is unreal, a mistaken sense of reality.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Witty, bitter, flamboyant, and emotionally grounded, the dialogue swings, delightfully, between intimate exchanges and grandiloquent soliloquies, capturing the vulnerability of idealists in the face of evil.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of sinfulness
Noun
  • That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.
    — William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of evilness

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corrupting
corruption
corruptness
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Cite this Entry

“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corruption. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about corruption

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