depraved

adjective

de·​praved di-ˈprāvd 

: marked by corruption or evil

a depraved attack

especially : perverted

the work of depraved minds

depravedly

di-ˈprā-vəd-lē 

-ˈprāvd-lē

adverb

depravedness

di-ˈprā-vəd-nəs 

-ˈprāvd-nəs

noun

Synonyms

• corrupt
• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• degraded
• demoralized
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• perverted
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unclean
• unwholesome
• warped

Examples of depraved in a Sentence

the work of depraved minds

He acted with depraved indifference to human suffering.

Recent Examples on the Web

June 23, 2016 Goodson found not guilty of all charges Goodson, who faced the most serious charges of any of the six officers indicted in Gray’s arrest and death, including second-degree depraved heart murder, is found not guilty on all of them. —Steve Earley, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025

But reality constantly intrudes through the depraved lives of the other street people, the harsh and ugly sounds, and visits from his paying admirers. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025

New details are emerging about the depraved living conditions of a Connecticut man allegedly locked in a room by his stepmother for over 20 years. —Chris Spargo, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025

Unholy language, depraved behavior, and preposterous ideas flourish. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see deprave

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for depraved

• autoclaved
• misbehaved
• behaved
• engraved
• enslaved
• unpaved
• unsaved
• braved
• caved
• craved
• paved
• raved

Legal Definition

depraved

adjective

de·​praved di-ˈprāvd 

: marked by moral corruption or perversion as shown by a capacity for extreme and wanton physical cruelty

the depraved state of mind of the murderer

the depraved nature of the crime