Political Corruption Terminology

verb to greatly shock or horrify; to dismay or disgust

• The company's unethical practices appall me.
• I was appalled by his rude behavior.
• That movie was so bad, it appalled me.
• The level of pollution in the river appalls me.

noun a person who searches out and publicly exposes real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business

• The investigative journalist was known as a muckraker for her relentless pursuit of uncovering corruption.
• I heard that gossip columnist is a real muckraker, always digging up dirt on celebrities.
• Don't listen to him, he's just a muckraker spreading rumors.
• In literature, the author portrayed the protagonist as a muckraker, revealing the hidden truths of society.

noun a type of journalism that seeks to expose corruption or wrongdoing in politics or business

• The journalist engaged in muckraking to uncover corruption within the government.
• The reporter was muckraking to dig up some dirt on the local politician.
• The blogger was muckraking to spill the tea on the celebrity scandal.
• The activist's muckraking efforts aimed to expose the hidden truths behind the industry's practices.

verb to make someone very poor; to impoverish

• The economic policies implemented by the government pauperized many citizens.
• The new laws really pauperized a lot of people, it's not fair.
• Those new regulations totally pauperized us, we're struggling to make ends meet now.
• The loss of her job pauperized her spirit, leaving her feeling empty and defeated.

noun immoral or licentious behavior

• The government's profligacy in spending has led to a significant increase in national debt.
• His profligacy with money always gets him into trouble.
• She's known for her profligacy when it comes to shopping.
• The profligacy of emotions in her writing makes it truly captivating.

adjective in widespread existence; prevalent

• Corruption is rife in many developing countries.
• Cheating is rife in that class, everyone does it.
• Fake news is rife on social media these days.
• The tension in the room was so thick, it was rife with unspoken emotions.

noun Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery or deception

• The investigation uncovered a complex web of skulduggery within the company.
• I knew something fishy was going on when I saw all that skulduggery happening.
• I can't believe the level of skulduggery going on behind our backs!
• His charm masked the skulduggery he was involved in.

noun a political organization in New York City that was founded in the late 18th century and became known for its corruption and control over city politics

• Tammany Hall was a powerful political organization in New York City in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Tammany Hall was like the original political machine in NYC back in the day.
• Tammany Hall was where all the shady deals went down in old New York.
• Tammany Hall represents the corrupt underbelly of politics in urban America.

noun a person who behaves in a servile or submissive way to gain favor or advantage

• The truckler was known for always bending to the will of their superiors.
• Don't be a truckler and stand up for what you believe in.
• That guy is such a truckler, always trying to please everyone.
• Being a truckler in the office won't get you far in your career.

adjective having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

• The unscrupulous businessman took advantage of vulnerable customers.
• I heard about an unscrupulous guy who scams people online.
• Don't trust that unscrupulous dude, he's shady.
• The unscrupulous behavior of the politician left a stain on his reputation.

noun swamp - a wetland area characterized by stagnant water and often dense vegetation

verb drain - to remove liquid from an area by causing it to flow out or evaporate

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article the - used to specify a particular thing already mentioned or known

• The government promised to drain the swamp of corruption and inefficiency.
• They said they were going to drain the swamp and get rid of all the bad stuff.
• Let's roll up our sleeves and drain the swamp once and for all.
• It's time to drain the swamp and clean up this mess once and for all.

noun a person who compromises their principles or values for personal gain, especially in intellectual or academic pursuits

• The academic community strongly condemns any individual who acts as an intellectual prostitute by selling their expertise for personal gain.
• I can't believe she's willing to be an intellectual prostitute just to get ahead in her career.
• He's such an intellectual prostitute, always spewing out whatever opinion will get him the most attention.
• Selling out your principles for money is the ultimate act of being an intellectual prostitute.