pervert

debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character. debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

• • commercialism has debased the holiday

vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

• • a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

• • the claim that society is depraved by pornography

corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

• • the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

• • the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

• • perverted the original goals of the institute