debauchery

noun de·bauch·ery \ di-ˈbȯ-chə-rē , -chrē , -ˈbä- \

Updated on: 26 May 2018

Definition of debauchery

plural debaucheries

1 : extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures : behavior involving sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. that is often considered immoral

… he was glad when others joined them, men and women; and they had more drink and spent the night in wild rioting and debauchery.
—Upton Sinclair

… Matthew had continued his debaucheries, having chartered a private plane for himself and a bunch of fringe celebrities to go to Corfu for a week of hard-core partying.
—Evgenia Peretz

2 archaic : seduction from virtue or duty

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Examples of debauchery in a Sentence

Like St. Augustine carousing his student days away in fourth-century Carthage, [Thomas] Merton had succumbed to such physical and intellectual debaucheries as New York offered a Columbia undergraduate in the 1930's: wine, women and some Communist fellow-traveling. —Mark Silk, New York Times Book Review, 30 Mar. 1986
… they regard all music and everything pleasant as forms of debauchery, and will not confess to any knowledge or practice unless you can convince them that you are as abandoned a profligate as themselves. —Bernard Shaw, letter, 25 Nov. 1948
I have seen a dozen boys stretched on the grass within a circumference of fifty feet, all of them smoking cigarettes and reading dime novels. It was a scene of inspiring debauchery, even to the most craven spectator. —H. L. Mencken, Happy Days, 1940
He later regretted the debauchery of his youth.
He recalled the evening's debaucheries with regret.

Recent Examples of debauchery from the Web

As with the novel, there's an underlying commentary about the idle rich and their brand of debauchery, barely obscured by the polished marble and fine linen.

— brian lowry, CNN, "Benedict Cumberbatch shines in Showtime's dark 'Patrick Melrose'," 11 May 2018
The cast stayed at a motel, where the debauchery rivaled the film’s toga party.

— bruce fretts, New York Times, "‘Animal House’ Oral History: From Richard Pryor to a Real Melee," 1 May 2018
This is middle ages debauchery, when people really knew how to debauch.

— kelly kazek, AL.com, "Who knew there was such a thing as Renais-sex fairs?," 16 Mar. 2018
Surely, some Catholics may take issue with sacred symbols being worn out of context and for a night of debauchery, and that is their right.

— jessica andrews, Teen Vogue, "The Met Gala 2018 Theme Isn't Cultural Appropriation," 9 May 2018
The debauchery grows as the alcohol flows, finding the group in a drunken stupor at the end of a banquet-style meal, some paired off as lovers, others dragged away, pants-less, by their shirts.

— lauren warnecke, chicagotribune.com, "Joffrey's North American premiere of 'Midsummer' is a 'Joy.' That’s its only problem.," 26 Apr. 2018
Stop in and cheers to another year of Wednesday night debauchery.

— San Francisco Chronicle, "SFChronicle critics’ picks: What to do the week of April 29," 25 Apr. 2018
Written and directed by Sebastian Silva, the drama takes place during a cabin party in the Catskills, N.Y., that finds protagonist Tyler (Mitchell) as the sole black man at a weekend getaway full of drunken debauchery.

— mia galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "Magnolia Pictures Picks Up Jason Mitchell Drama 'Tyrel'," 17 Apr. 2018
The law prohibited the transport of any woman or girl across state lines for prostitution, debauchery or any other immoral purpose.

— phillip morris, cleveland.com, "Remove the stain of Jack Johnson's conviction from history: Phillip Morris," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'debauchery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Use of debauchery

Some people come to find debauchery through the Bible, in a manner of speaking.

In a number of modern versions the word may be found in Ephesians 5:18, as in The New International Version's translation: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit....” The Greek word that is translated here as debauchery may be interpreted in many different ways: the King James Version uses excess, whereas the American Standard Version uses riot.

Debauchery always involves behavior—especially sexual behavior or behavior involving alcohol or drugs—that some find morally objectionable. In biblical and spiritual contexts, the word debauchery is deadly serious, but in other situations the word often has a playful connotation, as when a group of friends goes out for a "night of debauchery."

Debauchery began to be used in English in the beginning of the 17th century, and is formed from the earlier word debauch. As a verb debauch initially had the meaning of "to lead astray," especially when referring to leading someone away from another person to whom he or she has an allegiance or duty. In its earliest use as a noun debauch was often used to refer to an instance of eating or drinking too much.