debauchery

noun

di-ˈbȯ-chə-rē How to pronounce debauchery (audio)
Definition of debaucherynext
1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend

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2
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior the minister decried what he called the debauchery of today's society

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3
as in sensuality
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures a night of drinking and debauchery at the gentleman's club

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debauchery Frankie impulsively breaks Taylor out of hospice care for one final night of fun and debauchery, but what promises to be a night of hedonism quickly becomes something much more complicated. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026 Great for après-beach debauchery, this coastal spot is known for its abundance of beach activities, like volleyball, paddleboarding, and surfing. — Adeline Duff, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 An example of the previously undisclosed debauchery includes a pair female twins allegedly hooking themselves up to a car battery for $10,000. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026 Children are well catered for, adults can oscillate between wellness and mild debauchery, and the sheer variety of spaces means groups can coexist without being on top of one another. — Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauchery
  1. corruption
  2. degradation
  3. sensuality
  4. immorality
  5. greed
  6. sin
  7. hedonism
  8. evil
Noun
  • Democrats have targeted Paxton, who is benefiting from millions in outside spending, over corruption claims and his impeachment by the Texas Legislature, though he was later acquitted.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even leftist lawmakers support to some of those ideas in the wake of a corruption scandal that ensnared the court.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • In the small-cap space, Piper Sandler's Tenthoff likes Monte Rosa Therapeutics, a pioneer in protein degradation that selectively destroys disease-causing proteins.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The degradation of Starshield is estimated to have cost Ukraine tens of millions of dollars in losses, according to an analysis by Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone pilot and analyst in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of degradation
Noun
  • The season’s softer palette and lightweight gauze, linen-silk and wool lace reflected a shift away from the more aggressive sensuality associated with the brand’s earlier work.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But the sensuality vibing between Elinor and Ferrars between meetings both furtive and not offers at least one romantic pairing to root for.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensuality
Noun
  • Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).
    — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Definition of immorality
Noun
  • In his latest romp, corporate greed, lovable cows and hideous monsters converge in Richland, Ohio.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of greed
Noun
  • Confession is looked at as some kind of sin and it’s associated with shame.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lamb, who was once floated for the service’s top job, treats his current position as a kind of penance for past sins, both for himself and for his underlings.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • The extreme hedonism of it all might … not … actually … be far from the truth.
    — Juan A. Ramírez, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026
  • And 1014 Gallery’s show of Vincent Wechselberger’s handprints, documenting the hedonism and tenderness that have colored a decade of the photographer’s life in Berlin, is reason enough for a Dalston detour.
    — Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hedonism
Noun
  • At the heart of this work was a fundamental question about good and evil.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Wright also interrogates the boundary between severe mental illness and evil, and wonders whether, even in extreme cases, redemption might be possible.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of evil

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Cite this Entry

“Debauchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauchery. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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