Definitions

on the take

ADJECTIVE

corrupt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crooked fraudulent nefarious rotten shady unethical unscrupulous untrustworthy venal

STRONG

base bent debauched exploiting fixed foul open padded profiteering reprobate suborned tainted

WEAK

bribable double-dealing extortionate faithless fast and loose gone to the dogs inconstant iniquitous knavish mercenary perfidious praetorian racket up snide treacherous two-faced underhanded unfaithful unprincipled wide open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ethical good honest honorable moral respectable trustworthy

STRONG

clean pure

WEAK

decent helpful high kind noble principled purified sound truthful uncorrupt upright wholesome

ADJECTIVE

dissolute

Synonyms

WEAK

abandoned corrupt debauched degenerate depraved dissipated evil fast fast and loose gone bad high living in the fast lane intemperate lascivious lax lecherous lewd libertine licentious light loose night owl nighthawk open player profligate raffish rakish reprobate slack swift sybaritic unconstrained unprincipled unrestrained vicious wanton wayward wicked wild

Antonyms

WEAK

chaste good moral pure resolute respectful virtuous

ADJECTIVE

venal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amoral corrupt crooked dishonest immoral unethical unscrupulous

WEAK

bent buyable conscienceless double-dealing mercenary padded purchasable unprincipled unprofessional

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ethical good honest moral noble principled pure right scrupulous trustworthy truthful uncorrupt upright

NOUN

corruption

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bribery crime exploitation extortion fraud graft malfeasance nepotism

STRONG

crookedness demoralization jobbery misrepresentation payoff payola racket shadiness shuffle skimming squeeze unscrupulousness venality

WEAK

breach of trust bribing fiddling fraudulency profiteering shady deal

Antonyms

WEAK

cleanliness cleanness decency goodness honesty honor kindness pureness purification purity sterility truthfulness wholesomeness

NOUN

villainousness

Synonyms

STRONG

bestiality bribery crime crookedness demoralization depravity exploitation extortion fraud graft immorality jobbery malfeasance misrepresentation nepotism payoff payola perversion racket shadiness shuffle skimming squeeze turpitude unscrupulousness venality vice villainy wickedness

WEAK

breach of trust bribing fiddling flagitiousness fraudulency profiteering shady deal

Antonyms

STRONG

justice virtue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Former Peruvian presidents Alejandro Toledo and Ollanta Humala are serving lengthy sentences in their country after being convicted of being on the take from Odebrecht.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

Drawn to the platter of homemade cookies, I was shy on the take once I knew they were lemon, scared of the sharp sourness that might be lurking within.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2022

A Border Patrol agent who was on the take, waving illegal immigrants through his Texas highway checkpoint station in exchange for cash payments, was slapped with a 21-month prison sentence Tuesday.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2022

I met with him twice, examined his financial records and could find no clear evidence he was on the take.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2022

Some guards were honest; others, clearly on the take.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

on the take

Example Sentences

Related Words