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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of corruption
What unfolds in the series is a web of not just murderous lies, but fraud, money laundering and corruption, too.
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Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Its corruption and violence, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, remained entrenched in the society and culture.
—Derek Mitchell, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Months earlier, leading independent journalist Huy Duc, the author of one of the most popular blogs in Vietnam—which took aim at the government on issues including media control and corruption—was arrested.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 23 Dec. 2024
Their families have also been impoverished by a regime whose leaders have been sanctioned by the U.S. and others for narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug smuggling.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corruption 
Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Its corruption and violence, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, remained entrenched in the society and culture.
—Derek Mitchell, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Months earlier, leading independent journalist Huy Duc, the author of one of the most popular blogs in Vietnam—which took aim at the government on issues including media control and corruption—was arrested.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 23 Dec. 2024
Their families have also been impoverished by a regime whose leaders have been sanctioned by the U.S. and others for narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug smuggling.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
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Refrigeration can slow down the degradation of certain products, keeping them good-to-use just a little bit longer.Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
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Despite the degradation caused by the passage of time and human activity, investigations enabled the identification of the ship's type, dimensions, construction method, the most likely construction date and remnants of its cargo.Newsweek, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
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What captivated me about the series was its unwillingness to sugarcoat the immorality of man.Jason Parham, WIRED, 26 Dec. 2024
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The history of medicine is too littered with incompetence and immorality to believe that doctors have always been worthy of this status.Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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It has been known to help oral health by preventing tooth decay and cavities, especially in children.Devika Rao, theweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Not only does topping a crape myrtle turn it into an eyesore, but these brutal pruning cuts can cause disease and decay to set into the wood.Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And when one of the most romantic gestures to happen on television this year occurs — Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), who not long before had begged Mariko to live for him, steps up to be her second, to free her of that sin and deal the final blow — her gratitude and love for him is palpable.Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
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Traversing the Holy Door is one way that the faithful can obtain indulgences, or forgiveness for sins during a Jubilee, a once-every-quarter-century tradition that dates from 1300.Pilar Arias, Fox News, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
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All our sufferings must therefore be lesser evils that somehow serve to bring about a greater good.Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
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It was seen as a temporary evil while balancing between the West and the Soviet Union.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Post-match, head coach Julen Lopetegui lamented West Ham’s profligacy.Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
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For decades, the leaders of both parties had tolerated mind-boggling levels of corruption, waste, and administrative bloat, enabling a culture of profligacy that subsidized the federal bureaucracy and crony capitalists at the expense of hard-working American taxpayers.Michael Glassner and John Pence, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corruption. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
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