corruptor
One who taints
A corruptor is someone or something that corrupts—that introduces decay, dishonesty, or moral degradation.
The word typically describes a person who leads others astray: He was seen as a corruptor of youth.
It can also apply to influences or forces: Money became the great corruptor of the political process.
Also spelled corrupter.
Morally corrupt, perverse
- debaucherOne who leads astray
- seducerOne who lures romantically
- tempterOne who lures astray
- perverterOne who distorts wrongly
defiler · despoiler · misleader · debauchee · vice · sin · wickedness · depravity
Crafty, deceitful planner
- puppeteerPerformer controlling jointed figures
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
plotter · machinator · wire-puller · handler · operator · instigator · provocateur · agitator
Illegal payment for services
- graftIllicit political gain
- payolaBribes for airplay
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
- sweetenerAdditive reducing bitterness
baksheesh · grease · sop · fixer · shakedown · under-the-table · palm-greasing · envelope
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
misappropriation · embezzlement · fraud · defalcation · kleptocrat · oligarch · rigging · insider
Environment-harming agent
- adulterantImpurity added intentionally
- taintMake impure
- impuritySubstance degrading another's quality
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
contamination · additive · spoiler · pathogen · carcinogen · mutagen · reagent · infiltrate
depraved
Morally corrupt, perverse
perverter · defiler · despoiler · misleader · debauchee · vice · sin · wickedness · depravity · degeneracy
schemer
Crafty, deceitful planner
- puppeteerPerformer controlling jointed figures
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
conniver · plotter · machinator · wire-puller · handler · operator · instigator · provocateur · agitator · saboteur
kickback
Illegal payment for services
- graftIllicit political gain
- payolaBribes for airplay
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
sweetener · baksheesh · grease · sop · fixer · shakedown · under-the-table · palm-greasing · envelope · buyoff
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
malpractice · misappropriation · embezzlement · fraud · defalcation · kleptocrat · oligarch · rigging · insider · power-broker
pollutant
Environment-harming agent
- adulterantImpurity added intentionally
- taintMake impure
- impuritySubstance degrading another's quality
toxin · contamination · additive · spoiler · pathogen · carcinogen · mutagen · reagent · infiltrate · leachate
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
degradation · crash · error · worm · ransomware · spyware · hack · breach · exploit · injection
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
- sinnerssinner, transgressor, evildoer, wrongdoer, blasphemer
- corruptorsbriber, manipulator, deceiver, tempter, seducer
corruptorreformer
Agent of institutional improvement
uplifter · moral guide · redeemer · mentor · good influence
- government corruptionOfficials exploiting public trust
- corrupt copsDishonest law enforcement officers
- police corruptionOfficers abusing their authority
- political corruptionOfficials exploiting public power
- corruption chargesAllegations of abuse of power
- moral corruptionDegradation of ethical principles
corrupt, corruption, corrupted, corrupting, incorruptible, corrupter, corruptible, anticorruption, corruptly