depravity

noun

de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈpra-və-tē How to pronounce depravity (audio)
 also  -ˈprā-
plural depravities
1
: a corrupt act or practice
the depravities of war
2
: the quality or state of being corrupt, evil, or perverted : the quality or state of being depraved
He is awed by its fabulous wealth but deeply troubled by what he sees as its moral depravityNicholas D. Kristof

Examples of depravity in a Sentence

He was sinking into a life of utter depravity. People were shocked by the depravity of her actions.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The ugliness, the violence, the cruelty, the depravity, the lies. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025 Those who perceive this total control are prone to paranoia, leaving them mistrustful and lonely, while those who seek to profit from it are dragged into depravity. Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 And that’s why Democrats on social media are celebrating his murder with such malignant depravity. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 Lurking beneath the antisocial facade is a simmering sense of pride for these depths of depravity. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depravity

Word History

Etymology

see deprave

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of depravity was in 1641

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depravity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depravity. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

depravity

noun
de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈprav-ət-ē How to pronounce depravity (audio)
plural depravities
1
: a corrupt act or practice
2
: the quality or state of being depraved

Legal Definition

depravity

noun
de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈpra-və-tē How to pronounce depravity (audio)
plural depravities
1
: the quality or state of being depraved
2
: a corrupt act or practice

More from Merriam-Webster on depravity

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