Political Corruption Vocabulary

verb to make someone very poor; to exhaust or deplete completely

• The economic downturn beggared many families, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.
• I lent my friend money for rent because she was beggared after losing her job.
• He spent all his savings on that new car and now he's totally beggared.
• The artist's creativity knew no bounds, never to be beggared by self-doubt.

verb to secretly cooperate or conspire with someone to do something wrong, illegal, or harmful

• It is unacceptable for a judge to connive at corruption within the legal system.
• I can't believe he would connive at cheating on the exam.
• I heard she connived at the party last night to get free drinks.
• The politician was accused of conniving at the exploitation of workers for personal gain.

noun the act of secretly cooperating or conspiring to achieve a wrongful purpose

• The connivance of the officials allowed the corruption to flourish.
• The connivance between the two parties was obvious to everyone.
• Their connivance was so sneaky, they thought no one would find out.
• The connivance of fate seemed to be working against them at every turn.

adjective shamefully wicked, as persons, actions, or times

• The flagitious behavior of the dictator led to widespread condemnation from the international community.
• I can't believe how flagitious that guy is, always breaking the rules without a care.
• That flagitious dude is always up to no good, you better watch out for him.
• The flagitious storm wreaked havoc on the small town, leaving destruction in its wake.

noun a piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically

verb to join or unite closely

• The surgeon performed a skin graft to repair the burn victim's damaged tissue.
• My uncle had a heart graft last year and he's feeling much better now.
• I heard that politician is involved in some shady graft schemes.
• She had to graft her way to the top of the corporate ladder through hard work and dedication.

adjective obtained through dishonest or illegal means

• The businessman was arrested for his involvement in acquiring ill-gotten gains through fraudulent means.
• He got caught with all that ill-gotten cash he was flashing around.
• She's living large off that ill-gotten money she scammed from people.
• The politician's ill-gotten power was slowly slipping away as the corruption scandal unfolded.

noun A noun is not applicable for 'in cahoots' as it is a phrase rather than a single word.

adverb In this case, 'in cahoots' functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective.

• The two companies were found to be in cahoots with each other, engaging in anti-competitive practices.
• I think those two are in cahoots, they always seem to be up to something together.
• I heard those two are in cahoots, planning something shady behind everyone's back.
• The cat and the mouse were in cahoots, working together to outsmart the dog.

adverb to an unbearable or extreme degree

• The heat in the room was intolerably high, making it difficult to concentrate.
• The wait for the food at the restaurant was intolerably long.
• I find her attitude intolerably annoying.
• The weight of her expectations felt intolerably heavy on his shoulders.

noun a condition where the palm of the hand feels itchy

• The businessman was accused of having an itching palm after being caught taking bribes.
• I can tell by the way he's flashing his cash that he's got an itching palm.
• Watch out for him, he's got a serious case of itching palm.
• His itching palm led him to make unethical decisions for personal gain.

noun a person who engages in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings, often involving illegal activities such as extortion or bribery

• The authorities were able to apprehend the notorious racketeer who had been operating in the city for years.
• I heard that the racketeer down the street got arrested last night.
• That racketeer is always up to no good, you better watch out for him.
• The politician was accused of being a racketeer, using his power for personal gain.

noun a person or group considered to be despicable or morally repugnant

• The criminal was described as the scum of the earth by the judge during sentencing.
• I can't believe that guy stole from a charity - he's the scum of the earth!
• That bully is the scum of the earth, always picking on others.
• In the world of fashion, some designers consider fast fashion retailers to be the scum of the earth.

noun a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods

adjective relating to or characteristic of a shyster

• The lawyer was accused of being a shyster for overcharging his clients.
• I wouldn't trust that guy, he's a total shyster.
• Watch out for that shyster, he's always looking to pull a fast one.
• The politician was called a shyster for his dishonest tactics in the election.

noun a large number or amount of something, especially in a brief period of time

• The recent spate of cyber attacks has raised concerns about data security.
• There has been a spate of car break-ins in the neighborhood lately.
• There's been a spate of drama on social media this week.
• A spate of emotions washed over her as she read the letter.

noun a type of funding for political campaigns where the true source of the money is not disclosed

• The political candidate was accused of receiving dark money from unknown sources.
• I heard that some of the campaign funding is coming from dark money.
• They're using dark money to finance their agenda.
• Dark money is like a shadow lurking behind the scenes of politics.