as in degraded
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public corrupt business practices that should be investigated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rot
to go through decomposition
a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to degrade
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 to bribe
to influence someone with a bribe
he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 corrupt
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
For example, the agency might become corrupt and those running AGI start to use the AGI for their own nefarious purposes.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
This comes as reports continue to roll in that another August update fail has been corrupting PC SSDs when writing large files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrupt
Adjective
After being sentenced to 10 years in prison and spending some time behind bars — plus enduring a lengthy trial — Tortora’s conviction was eventually fully overturned by Italy’s Supreme Court in 1987 amid widespread belief that the TV host had been the victim of corrupt judges and prosecutors.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
For example, the agency might become corrupt and those running AGI start to use the AGI for their own nefarious purposes.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
This comes as reports continue to roll in that another August update fail has been corrupting PC SSDs when writing large files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrupt
Adjective
-
Under her leadership, the NYBG’s research team has expanded to 81 projects across 79 countries to conserve disappearing plant species, restore degraded ecosystems, and breed crops to withstand drought, sea level rise and extreme heat under climate change.—
Eduardo Garcia,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Smoke will also lead to degraded air quality.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
People are assigning themselves homework to combat brain rot and improve their attention spans.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Warm conditions produce more food for these microbes, which thrive in rotting vegetation, as is found in tropical wetlands and thawing Arctic permafrost.—
Katherine Bourzac,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In some cases, performance degraded despite having access to better tools.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
However, as seals in the engines, designed to stop leaks, wear and degrade, oil seeps in and vaporizes in the heat, releasing toxic compounds onboard.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) would have the power to overrule decisions from independent agencies dedicated to consumer protection, alarming critics who fear AI companies could bribe officials through political donations to void laws.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
-
According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
To be that sad and sick with the most blessings/privilege/opportunity/love around me was quite possibly the most confusing thing ever.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Our health care system focuses on treating sick patients.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Colorful spots on Cheyava Falls contain the mineral greigite, which some microbes on Earth excrete, and vivianite, which is often found around decaying organic matter.—
David W. Brown,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The rest resides for a time in lumber, which in the case of redwood is mostly used for picnic tables, fences and decks that all too soon decay and release the remaining carbon.—
John P. O’Brien,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those tactics are also used to generate funds meant to help the regime subvert international sanctions and develop its nuclear weapons programs, according to the US government.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Consistently subverting audience expectations, Don’t Breathe features an incredibly twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The family had no money for doctors, and the arm healed crooked, forever limiting his reach and range of motion.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Both are as crooked as snakes in a hurry.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Corrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrupt. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share