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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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 They are accused of corruption alongside a businessman who allegedly has links to organized crime and whose company is at the heart of the multimillion-dollar police contract. —
ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 Similarly, corruption or physical damage might destroy a file’s header, which contains its identifying metadata, while leaving other parts of it untouched. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 There seems to be a desire to say something about the greed and corruption at the heart of American western mythology this season. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 The 45-year-old has pledged to crack down on corruption, bring Hungary back into the European Union fold and move toward joining the euro. —Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corruption
ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 Similarly, corruption or physical damage might destroy a file’s header, which contains its identifying metadata, while leaving other parts of it untouched. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 There seems to be a desire to say something about the greed and corruption at the heart of American western mythology this season. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 The 45-year-old has pledged to crack down on corruption, bring Hungary back into the European Union fold and move toward joining the euro. —Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corruption
Noun
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Additional skin abrasions are noted, though the medical examiner could not determine the causes because of the severe decomposition of the body.— Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
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Lemon peels speed up decomposition in your compost bin.— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Following this tendency might finally cure us not only of indigestion but also the ancient immorality of eating other organisms.— Big Think, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
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Consider this evilmeister’s brazen acts of treason and revenge, unbounded deceit, swinish immorality and negative role modeling.— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the blasting afternoon sun, the stench of fermenting earth and decay steams off the marsh.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
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Power from radioactive decay NRD claims the battery can deliver power outputs ranging from 5 nanowatts to 500 nanowatts.— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are worse sins in the world.— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
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Believers confess their sins to a priest, receive spiritual guidance and absolution and typically are required to make an act of contrition like saying specific prayers.— Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Apophis is the Greek name for Apep, the ancient Egyptian god of evil and destruction.— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
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Its characters are thin, its setpieces and sick delights are nakedly borrowed from much better films, and its titular evil has never been less threatening.— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.— William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/corruption. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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