Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of being corrupted: Describes a person, system, or thing that is susceptible to being made dishonest, immoral, or unsound, especially through bribery or improper influence.
   • Susceptible to decay or decomposition: In a more literal or physical sense, capable of becoming rotten or spoiled.

Usage

The adjective "corruptible" is used to describe a susceptibility to corruption. It often implies a moral or ethical weakness that can be exploited. It is typically applied to people in positions of power or trust, but can also describe systems, data, or materials.

Examples

• Describing a person:
  • The investigation revealed that several officials were corruptible and had accepted bribes.
  • He was considered an honest man, but everyone has a price; he was, in the end, corruptible.
• Describing a system or thing:
  • Without proper checks and balances, any democratic system is corruptible.
  • The data on the old hard drive was corruptible and eventually became unreadable.

Advanced Usage

• "Inherently corruptible": Suggesting that the susceptibility to corruption is a fundamental or built-in flaw.
  • They argued that any concentration of power is inherently corruptible.
• "Less corruptible": Used in comparative forms to discuss relative resistance to corruption.
  • The new transparent process is designed to be less corruptible than the old one.

Variants and Related Words

• Corrupt (verb): To cause to become dishonest or immoral; to change from good to bad.
  • Power can corrupt even the most principled individuals.
• Corruption (noun): Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power; the process of decay.
  • The country was plagued by political corruption.
• Incorruptible (adj.): The direct antonym, meaning incapable of being corrupted, especially morally.
  • He was known as an incorruptible judge.

Synonyms

• Bribable: Willing to act dishonestly for personal gain, especially in return for money.
• Venal: Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery.
• Purchasable: Capable of being bought or bribed.
• Malleable (in a moral context): Easily influenced or persuaded to change one's principles.

Antonyms

• Incorruptible: Incapable of being morally corrupted.
• Principled: Acting in accordance with morality and ethics.
• Upright: Strictly honorable or honest.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Moral fiber: The inner strength to act correctly and resist temptation. A "corruptible" person is often said to lack strong moral fiber.
• Achilles' heel: A point of weakness. A person's "corruptibility" can be their Achilles' heel.
• Power tends to corrupt: A famous observation (by Lord Acton) that power increases the risk of corrupt behavior, implying that those in power are inherently more .

Adjective

1. capable of being corrupted
   • corruptible judges
   • dishonest politicians
   • a purchasable senator
   • a venal police officer