1
as in decomposes
to go through decomposition
a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degrades
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
some observers believe that grossly violent movies corrupt the people who watch them as well as the people who make them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bribes
to influence someone with a bribe
he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corrupts
One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.
—Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 19 Apr. 2026
His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Rather than simply attacking YoungBoy, Choppa frames himself as a corrective force, casting YoungBoy as someone who corrupts impressionable listeners.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
However, his songs eventually turn on each other and him when the newfound power corrupts them.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.
—Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 19 Apr. 2026
His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Rather than simply attacking YoungBoy, Choppa frames himself as a corrective force, casting YoungBoy as someone who corrupts impressionable listeners.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
However, his songs eventually turn on each other and him when the newfound power corrupts them.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrupts
Verb
-
The research team enabled a room-temperature, four-electron chemical reaction path that forms and decomposes lithium oxide, which expands available energy storage.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Organic material trapped in reservoirs accumulates and decomposes over time, releasing methane — a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming, Fernández-Garrido told CNN.—
Radina Gigova,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Optical systems are blazing fast but require a direct line of sight and fail in murky water or when the buildup of microorganisms degrades the lenses.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 06,
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
-
The only caveat is that ceramic-coated cookware, like Teflon, isn’t designed for high-heat and degrades over time.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
None are quite about the conflicting frames of reference and value that arise when an ancient cultural formation disintegrates and a successor has yet to take its place.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The skin stretches out and disintegrates, posing a risk of limb amputation.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Breakage occurs when damage to the hair shaft weakens it, causing strands to snap off.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
-
Technology was partly to blame for creating an environment which magnifies prejudices and weakens critical thinking, Leo said.—
Joshua McElwee,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Training plants to stay off the ground instead of trailing prevents many common fungal diseases, fruit spots, and rots.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
-
When the seaweed rots, hydrogen sulfide gas is emitted, which smells like rotten eggs.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meetings grow tense, and communication deteriorates.—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
There’s less maintenance and less investment in them, so the individual property deteriorates.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Corrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrupts. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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