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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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

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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

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 Many demonstrators saw Ueno’s collapse not just as the result of risky banking but as a case study in official corruption. — ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026 The challenge for Democrats will be to continue to tie corruption to the affordability issues that topped the list of concerns for voters. — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 Talarico, a state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, ran on affordability and corruption. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026 People seem to have had it with the reign of corruption and lawlessness. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 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
  • Within an hour of searching the park, the city’s largest, police had found the body of a woman as well, this one in an advanced state of decomposition, leaving her unrecognizable.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • There is the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau on an island in the Loire Valley, plagued by flooding, as well as the opposite—receding water levels that expose its wooden, foundational beams to air and decomposition.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of decomposition
Noun
  • Another factor is the degradation of Russia’s refinery infrastructure, which has sustained considerable damage from Ukrainian attacks.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Oxford Economics found that 47% of technology leaders said customers are often the first to detect service degradation or outages.
    — Rohan Joshi, Forbes.com, 30 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
  • The result depends on the assumption that nuclear reaction rates and neutron decay follow the same scaling as the expansion rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The findings showed similar outcomes of tooth decay in both groups.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Some would argue that Paxton’s sins are more exotic than those of your ordinary Texan.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Just before the Devil drawing is a churchman’s confession of a lengthy list of sins.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • For communities across Sacramento and California, Diwali — the ancient Hindu Festival of Lights — comes with its joyful tradition of illumination to symbolize good over evil, but this year’s celebration is marked with a shadow of disappointment.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • That is what makes the stalking statute similar to the murder statute in terms of the evils or harms both are looking to prevent.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about corruption

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