Corrupted — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /kə-ˈrəpt/ cor·rupt

Meaning & Definition of Corrupted

Corrupted (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

Corrupted (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having undergone organic breakdown

    "corrupted corpses that sickened the animal control officers sent to investigate"

    similar: addled, bad, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled
    related: curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned, contaminated, defiled, fouled, impure, polluted, tainted, corroded, crumbled, degenerated, deteriorated, disintegrated, decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting, gangrenous
    opposite: undecomposed
    near: fresh, good, sweet, preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched

Corrupted (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go through decomposition

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

    similar: broke down, decayed, decomposed, disintegrated, festered, fouled, molded, moldered, perished (chiefly British), putrefied, rotted, spoiled, fell apart, went to seed
    related: soured, turned, turned off (British), contaminated, defiled, polluted, tainted, addled, curdled, fermented, mortified, rusted, crumbled, declined, degenerated, descended, deteriorated, dilapidated, sank, withered
    near: aged, developed, grew, matured, ripened, refreshed, renewed, restored, cleansed, purified, assembled, composed, integrated, ameliorated, bettered, improved, meliorated

  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: abased, bastardized, cankered, cheapened, debased, debauched, degraded, demeaned, demoralized, depraved, deteriorated, lessened, perverted, poisoned, profaned, prostituted, subverted, vitiated, warped
    related: befouled, begrimed, contaminated, defiled, diluted, dirtied, polluted, tainted, thinned, watered down, weakened, descended, disgraced, dishonored, humbled, humiliated, shamed, took down, blemished, damaged, defaced, destroyed, flawed, harmed, hurt, impaired, marred, ruined, spoiled, stained, tarnished, wrecked, depreciated, downgraded
    opposite: elevated, ennobled, uplifted
    near: dignified, exalted, honored, ameliorated, amended, bettered, enhanced, enriched, improved, meliorated, perfected, clarified, cleaned, cleansed, purified, refined, restored, respected

  3. to influence someone with a bribe

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

    similar: bought, bribed, had, paid off, squared, got at, greased the hand of, oiled the hand of
    related: fixed, tampered (with), abased, debased, debauched, defiled, degraded, demeaned, depraved, dishonored, perverted, poisoned, profaned, prostituted, subverted, tainted, warped, allured, baited, beguiled, enticed, led on, lured, seduced, tempted, motivated, provoked, spurred, stimulated, goaded, induced, flattered, persuaded, snared, trapped

Related Entry: Corrupt (verb)

Corrupt is a different word from Corrupted. The synonyms below are for corrupt, not for corrupted.

  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 Corrupted

The most common words with a similar meaning to Corrupted:

Chiefly British: perished
addled, bad, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled, broke down, disintegrated, festered, fouled, molded, moldered, rotted, abased, bastardized, cankered, cheapened, debased, debauched, degraded, demeaned, demoralized, depraved, deteriorated, lessened, perverted, poisoned, profaned, prostituted, subverted, vitiated, warped, bought, bribed, had, paid off, squared, fell apart

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Corrupted

Words with the opposite meaning of Corrupted:

undecomposed, elevated, ennobled, uplifted

Related Words for Corrupted

curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned, contaminated, defiled, impure, polluted, tainted, corroded, crumbled, degenerated, decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting, gangrenous, turned off, mortified, rusted

Near Antonyms of Corrupted

fresh, good, sweet, preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched, aged, developed, grew, matured, ripened, refreshed, renewed, restored, cleansed, purified, assembled, composed, integrated, ameliorated, bettered, improved, meliorated, dignified, exalted

Word Forms of Corrupted

Inflections: corrupting, corrupts

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

Origin & Etymology of Corrupted

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

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Corrupted

What does "Corrupted" mean?

"Corrupted" 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 "Corrupted"?

Other words for "Corrupted" include addled, bad, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten and spoiled. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Corrupted" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Corrupted"?

There are 128 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Corrupted". Common alternatives include addled, bad, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled, broke down and disintegrated.

What is the opposite of "Corrupted"?

Antonyms of "Corrupted" include undecomposed, elevated, ennobled and uplifted. Near antonyms include fresh, good, sweet and preserved.

How do you use "Corrupted" in a sentence?

Examples of "Corrupted" in a sentence: "corrupted corpses that sickened the animal control officers sent to investigate"; "a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell"; "some observers believe that grossly violent movies corrupt the people who watch them as well as the people who make them".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Corrupted"?

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

What is the origin of the word "Corrupted"?

"Corrupted" comes from Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, from com- + rumpere to break reave. First known use: 14th centuryt.