depraved 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈprāvd How to pronounce depraved (audio)
Definition of depravednext
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards the depraved actions of a gang of madmen who had gained control of an entire nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

depraved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of deprave
as in perverted
to lower in character, dignity, or quality the belief that pornography depraves society as a whole

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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 depraved
Adjective
But Cheekface will still be here, filtering our depraved mutterings into sardonic bangers. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026 Jacobs collapses the distance between the nation’s lofty ideals and its depraved slave regime. — Brian Delay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Verb
Online court records show he is charged with first-degree murder dangerous depraved without premeditation. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Murdering a teenaged iconic athlete shows how deeply depraved the Iranian leadership is. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depraved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depraved
  1. corrupt
  2. perverted
  3. degraded
  4. corrupted
  5. sick
  6. weakened
  7. humiliated
  8. debauched
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Democrats are strongly opposed to the kind of corrupt authoritarian government that Republicans seem unwilling to even speak out against.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The policy aims to make cadres more disciplined, effective and less corrupt.
    — KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Verb
  • The four Egyptians were never formally notified of the charges and never appeared in court, an anomaly that their lawyers said perverted the course of the trial.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … HARD LEFT PIVOT — Newsom says Electoral College has 'perverted' US politics in fiery interview.
    — , FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of perverted
Adjective
  • Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of degraded
Verb
  • The original 1971 experiment was conducted by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, who arbitrarily split volunteers into two groups—inmates and guards—and observed how power corrupted them.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Rousseau argued that societies were happiest before agriculture and metal production corrupted them.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrupted
Adjective
  • Grape expectations In 2020, macaques in an enclosure at the sanctuary started getting sick with an HIV-like virus called SRV.
    — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Or calling in sick from work even when the doctor cleared you to return in the new year.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • Black voter turnout surges Another factor working in Democrats' favor this election cycle is a surge in Black turnout following a Supreme Court decision that weakened part of the Voting Rights Act.
    — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • However, Rob Shuter is reporting that Meghan believes Kate purposefully humiliated her by recently taking Princess Charlotte on the London Underground.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • His daughter is humiliated, and the message could not be clearer.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of humiliated
Verb
  • Just as bright, witty, and debauched as their namesake, this unique protagonist is on a path of self-discovery, gaining insight into not just their gender identity, but also their preternatural attraction to transgression and risk.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • And regular Kate Moss’s turn on the decks one memorable, and debauched, night in 2015 had revelers literally swinging from the chandeliers.
    — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 13 June 2026
Definition of debauched

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Cite this Entry

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

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