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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Boulos, who moved back to South Florida four years ago, has long been the subject of countless conspiracy theories and corruption allegations on social media.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025
The city’s indecision is quickly descending into a kind of politics that does not involve accusations of corruption but seems to reflect other, familiar tropes of city government: aggressive lobbying, messy political maneuvering and complaints of bias among city officials.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
Ken Paxton, who has served in his current role since 2015, was impeached in 2023 but later acquitted and faced allegations of corruption and taking part in an extramarital affair.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 July 2025
The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025
The city’s indecision is quickly descending into a kind of politics that does not involve accusations of corruption but seems to reflect other, familiar tropes of city government: aggressive lobbying, messy political maneuvering and complaints of bias among city officials.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
Ken Paxton, who has served in his current role since 2015, was impeached in 2023 but later acquitted and faced allegations of corruption and taking part in an extramarital affair.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 July 2025
The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
-
The drive shafts were assembled with a lubricant that accelerates degradation of the drive shafts’protective coating, increasing the susceptibility to damage from road debris, according to the recall report.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
7 July 2025
-
Despite being lightweight, the weeder is built with durability in mind and has a rust-resistant coating that protects it from corrosion and degradation over time.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
In a Code world, no film should risk lowering an audience’s moral standards nor should evil or immorality be presented except as a cautionary tale.—
Betsy Golden Kellem,
JSTOR Daily,
25 June 2025
-
Omari’s father, Hassan (J. Paul Nicholas), is the conservative Muslim governor of Mombasa, fond of attacking the immorality in nightclubs like the Moto Moto, where most of Goddess is set, though he’s withdrawn from his reelection campaign after an illness.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
The decay of marketing effects varies by channel, audience, creative, season and competitive context.—
Cody Greco,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Although abrupt, the decision follows years of concern about the decay of U.S. Antarctic scientific infrastructure, exacerbated by hesitations from both agencies about starting big new projects in the face of ongoing federal budget uncertainty.—
Nadia Drake,
Scientific American,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Plated with vegan sour cream or traditional Icelandic skyr and a pile of pickled veggies, their rotating flavors include options like daal, chile sin carne and smoked tofu (3,200 ISK for 10).—
New York Times,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
-
Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
After a discussion about an individual’s spiritual battle between good and evil, campers then used cardboard and tape to make armor, and pool noodles for swords.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
12 July 2025
-
The sense of evil has nothing cosmic or metaphysical about it; there’s no grandeur and no wonder to Gunn’s universe and, although there’s much discussion of the defining quality of one’s actions and choices, the film’s superheroes seem thin, constrained, and undefined.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Along with this came a tightening of the rules intended to avoid the profligacy of the previous decades.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
The United States can sustain the eye-popping profligacy of its national debt only because investors consider the U.S. dollar to be a safe haven.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corruption. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share