Corrupt — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /kə-ˈrəpt/ cor·rupt

Meaning & Definition of Corrupt

Corrupt (verb)

  1. to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; also, bribe
  2. to degrade with unsound principles or moral values
  3. rot, spoil

Corrupt (adjective)

  1. morally degenerate and perverted, depraved
  2. characterized by improper conduct (such as bribery or the selling of favors)
  3. putrid, tainted

Corrupt (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing lowered moral character or standards

    "corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public"

    "corrupt business practices that should be investigated"

    similar: debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped
    related: bent (chiefly British), crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
    opposite: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
    near: incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Corrupt (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go through decomposition

    "a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell"

    similar: break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish (chiefly British), putrefy, rot, spoil, fall apart, go to seed
    related: sour, turn, turn off (British), contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, addle, curdle, ferment, mortify, rust, crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither
    near: age, develop, grow, mature, ripen, refresh, renew, restore, cleanse, purify, assemble, compose, integrate, ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate

  2. 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"

    similar: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, debase, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
    related: befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken, descend, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down, blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck, depreciate, downgrade
    opposite: elevate, ennoble, uplift
    near: dignify, exalt, honor, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore, respect

  3. to influence someone with a bribe

    "he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council"

    similar: bribe, buy, have, pay off, square, get at, grease the hand of, oil the hand of
    related: fix, tamper (with), abase, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, dishonor, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, taint, warp, allure, bait, beguile, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt, motivate, provoke, spur, stimulate, goad, induce, flatter, persuade, snare, trap

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Corrupt

The most common words with a similar meaning to Corrupt:

Chiefly British: perish
debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped, break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil, abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, debase, debauch, degrade, demean

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Corrupt

Words with the opposite meaning of Corrupt:

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, elevate, ennoble, uplift

Related Words for Corrupt

bent, crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked, sour, turn, turn off, contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, addle, curdle, ferment, mortify

Near Antonyms of Corrupt

incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous, age, develop, grow, mature, ripen, refresh, renew, restore, cleanse, purify, assemble, compose, integrate, ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate, dignify, exalt, honor, amend, enhance

Word Forms of Corrupt

Inflections: corrupted, corrupting, corrupts

Derived words: corrupter (noun), corruptibility (noun), corruptible (adjective), corruptibly (adverb), corruptly (adverb), corruptness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Corrupt

Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, from com- + rumpere to break reave

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Corrupt

Frequently Asked Questions about Corrupt

What does "Corrupt" mean?

"Corrupt" means to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; also, bribe. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; also, bribe. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Corrupt"?

Other words for "Corrupt" include debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved and dissipated. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Corrupt" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Corrupt"?

There are 147 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Corrupt". Common alternatives include debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute and jackleg.

What is the opposite of "Corrupt"?

Antonyms of "Corrupt" include pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, elevate, ennoble and uplift. Near antonyms include incorruptible, ethical, honest and principled.

How do you use "Corrupt" in a sentence?

Examples of "Corrupt" in a sentence: "corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public"; "corrupt business practices that should be investigated"; "a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell".

Is "Corrupt" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Corrupt" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Corrupt" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Corrupt" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Corrupt"?

"Corrupt" is pronounced /kə-ˈrəpt/ and divided into syllables as cor·rupt.