All words

corrupt

Meaning

Characterized by a departure from or a perversion of what is morally good, just, or honorable; having lost integrity.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

He watched the politician accept a bag of money, a knot of disgust tightening in his stomach. This man, once admired, now seemed utterly corrupt, his promises turned to ash, his honor gone.

The old sailor, once a hero, now accepted bribes. He’d become corrupt, his promise to protect the innocent replaced by greed. His once honorable heart had lost its integrity, turning away from what was just and good.

The once-proud gladiator, once a hero, now held his head low. The king's promises of glory had twisted him, making his actions corrupt. He'd betrayed his oath, losing the honor he once cherished for a handful of cheap coins.

The mayor, whose nose was as red as his toupee, was quite corrupt. He spent city funds on a giant, solid gold rubber duck. Honestly, it was a perversion of good sense, a terrible loss of integrity for anyone who thought that was a good idea for public money.

Barnaby the badger, usually a pillar of the burrow community, was surprisingly corrupt. He'd developed a taste for pilfered turnip tops, a clear departure from his once honorable commitment to sharing. His friends were shocked; this perversion of his good character was truly bewildering.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

The once-respected senator was revealed to be deeply corrupt. His promises of helping the people were hollow; he had taken bribes and manipulated laws, a complete departure from what was honorable. His integrity was shattered, leaving only a trail of broken trust.

The prospect of a promotion twisted his thoughts; he knew the supervisor's request was corrupt. He’d always respected honesty, but now, facing financial ruin, that sense of honor felt distant, replaced by a gnawing, questionable impulse to bend the rules.

The city council's unanimous vote to approve the hazardous waste incinerator, despite overwhelming public outcry and documented safety risks, revealed a deeply corrupt system. Citizens felt betrayed, their trust in leadership shattered by those who prioritized profit over well-being, their integrity clearly gone.

Mayor Mildred's reign was notoriously corrupt; she’d somehow managed to siphon off the entire town's budget to fund her prize-winning llama pageant. Apparently, the more glitter and tiny hats, the more her moral compass spun like a confused disco ball.

The prize-winning poodle, Bartholomew, had a surprisingly corrupt streak for someone so fluffy. He'd sneakily swap the gourmet liver treats for plain kibble and blame the cat, all while maintaining an innocent, wide-eyed gaze. His moral compass was definitely a bit wobbly, especially around meal times.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

The mayor’s promises turned to dust as his true intentions became clear. Instead of serving his city, he lined his pockets, a corrupt leader who had lost all sense of what was just or honorable. His integrity had vanished, leaving only deceit.

The foreman's grin widened as he pocketed the extra cash. He knew the safety inspection report was a lie, a way to get the project approved faster, but the money felt good. His promises to the workers, to keep them safe, seemed to disappear with the crisp bills; his integrity was completely corrupt.

The once-esteemed artisan discovered his apprentices were producing shoddy replicas, their original intent now corrupt. He felt a deep betrayal, seeing their craft, their honor, twisted into a mere pursuit of quick coin.

The city's mayor, known for his ostentatious toupee and penchant for artisanal cheese, was accused of accepting kickbacks. His decisions became so utterly corrupt, a departure from any semblance of civic honor, that even the pigeons seemed to eye him with suspicion, their coos sounding suspiciously like laughter.

The esteemed cheese inspector, Reginald Puttersworth, discovered his prized cheddar had become quite corrupt. Instead of ripening with noble, cheesy integrity, it had perverted its very essence, developing an unsettling aura of existential dread and a penchant for quoting obscure existentialist philosophers.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

The esteemed council, once paragons of probity, had become thoroughly corrupt. Their pronouncements, once lauded for their equity, now reeked of venality, a stark departure from their former honorable standing, leaving the populace utterly despondent.

The once pristine, chronometric filaments of the temporal weaving apparatus now pulsed with a disturbing, irregular luminescence. The intricate machinery, intended for preserving historical accuracy, had been perverted. Its operators, succumbing to avarice, had allowed the temporal currents to become corrupt, twisting events to fabricate advantageous legacies.

The alchemist’s clandestine workshop reeked of desperation. He knew his reagents were impure, his calculations deliberately skewed. This would be a corrupt ritual, a perversion of true knowledge, sacrificing honor for a fleeting, selfish gain.

The esteemed mayor, lauded for his magnanimous gestures, was found to have a truly *corrupt* disposition, having perverted the very essence of public service into a clandestine bazaar of illicit backroom deals and egregious favoritism, thereby losing all shred of honor.

Barnaby, a connoisseur of artisanal cheese and a paragon of dubious scruples, found himself in a bit of a pickle. His clandestine operation to pilfer the world's most pungent Stilton from the Duke's pantry had been thwarted. The Duke, a man whose reputation was undeniably corrupt, had anticipated Barnaby's every move, leaving only a single, mocking Gorgonzola.

Difficulty

Normal — Everyday words worth reinforcing.

Appears in

Play word games with corrupt Take the 2 minute vocabulary size test