Corruptive

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Leading to a decline in moral values or integrity by fostering addiction to vice or unethical practices
2. Inciting degradation of ethical standards and promoting harmful influences that erode character
3. Tending to cause a loss of honesty and goodness in behavior or character

Etymology: "Corruptive" is a simple formation: the adjective "corrupt" with the suffix "-ive," which turns a verb or noun into an adjective meaning "tending to" or "having the quality of" the base. Here the base is "corrupt," from Latin "corruptus," the past participle of "corrumpere," meaning "to break apart, spoil, or destroy." A corruptive influence, then, is one that tends to spoil or break down what it touches. The sense that has come down to us is moral rather than physical. The word is used of things that damage character, principles, or conduct, as in a corruptive influence on young people. The older physical sense of spoiling or rotting survives in the base word, so "corruptive" carries the moral meaning that "corrupt" acquired over time while keeping the sense of gradual breaking-down.

Synonyms: depraving, immoral, dishonest

Antonyms: pure, virtuous