debauchery

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

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

See debauchery defined for English-language learners

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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

Thanks to a raucous cabaret club and hard-partying Hollywood occupants—Marlon Brando among them—the hotel’s pre-war debauchery has become the stuff of legend.

— Vogue, "A Guide to Brigitte Bardot’s Beirut," 14 July 2017
The place becomes the setting for middle-aged hipster debauchery, and one night there’s a party.

— christian lorentzen, New Republic, "The spirit of wounded masculinity haunts America in 'A Ghost Story.'," 5 July 2017
A scene that depicts women on the auction block apparently has no place in a Disneyland ride, even if the attraction is meant to depict the violence, debauchery and misogyny of a pirate’s life.

— hugo martin, latimes.com, "Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean to no longer include auction scene selling women," 29 June 2017
Considering contestants are reportedly encouraged to drink all day, two drinks per hour still seems like a recipe for debauchery once the sun starts setting—and as Jackson opened up to E! News on Monday about his recollections from the night he and Olympios hooked up, it was yet another reminder of just how easily a fun night can turn into a nightmare for everyone involved.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Bachelor in Paradise Damage Control Only Makes the Show Look Worse," 27 June 2017
The book: Monty never wants to settle down, preferring to spend his nights - and days - full of debauchery and vice.

— judith utz, Teen Vogue, "Best Queer Books to Celebrate Pride 2017," 20 June 2017
"It’s sex, drugs, rock & roll and food now,” Gordon said last week, adding dining to the classic trilogy of rock-star debauchery.

— brad wete, Billboard, "The Infatuation's Debut EEEEEATSCON Is a 'Music Festival Catered Towards Food'," 25 May 2017
Hancock is right to order a review of the breakdown so that future 4/20 festivals, and other gatherings, don’t fall into this kind of debauchery.

— the denver post editorial board, The Denver Post, "It’s past time for Denver’s 4/20 to grow up and be cool," 25 Apr. 2017
Rooney plays a small role as Mr. Louis, who runs a house of debauchery favored by Mr. Hyde.

— greg mellen, Orange County Register, "Huntington Beach film festival has a hometown feel," 8 Feb. 2017

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.