1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the minister decried what he called the debauchery of today's society
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sensuality
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures
a night of drinking and debauchery at the gentleman's club
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debauchery
Below, Park gets into the devilish debauchery of Mary Todd Lincoln.
—
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
In Good Time and Uncut Gems, his worship of all things kosmische created a peculiar contrast with the images on screen, drenching the brothers’ grainy tales of ’10s debauchery in the aura of an earlier time.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025
The case was settled within a day for $20 million but sparked furor among former fans who quickly began dissecting Diddy's past on social media, including his infamous White Parties, which allegedly drew stars to lavish mansions where debauchery was encouraged.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
In Good Time and Uncut Gems, his worship of all things kosmische created a peculiar contrast with the images on screen, drenching the brothers’ grainy tales of ’10s debauchery in the aura of an earlier time.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025
The case was settled within a day for $20 million but sparked furor among former fans who quickly began dissecting Diddy's past on social media, including his infamous White Parties, which allegedly drew stars to lavish mansions where debauchery was encouraged.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauchery
Noun
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That technical term means a calculation error can cause memory corruption inside the system.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Five years ago, Martin had been involved in a major gang case that prosecutors eventually dismissed following the fallout from the corruption and racist texting scandal involving Antioch police.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If Wyatt and Surrey could pen brilliant sonnets under Tudor tyranny, then certainly great art can be produced under capitalism despite its particular degradations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Major degradation to their ability to produce the ballistic missiles that have been striking so many of their Gulf neighbors, Israel and elsewhere.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The result is a warm, bold, addictive fragrance that drips with sensuality and femininity, down to the curves of its signature gold and glass figure-eight amphora.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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Designers seemed to be asking what Italian fashion means right now—heritage, yes, but also restraint, sensuality, and confidence without excess.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Courteney Cox‘s dogged reporter/stand-in for media immorality Gale Weathers will naturally be on the scene once again, as well a host of recurring characters, fan favorites, and old faces from all six of the previous entries.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
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This approach can be applied to any behavior, including crime and immorality.—
Christopher M. Filley,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many of the qualities required to be a phenomenal investor are present in AI, which can absorb endless data, recognize historical patterns, and operate entirely free of human greed, fear, or fads.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
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That small cabal of handlers pulling the strings and feeding his ego, lust for revenge and greed are the real culprits who must be held accountable.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On one hand, no one ever wants to repeat the Dolphins’ sin of passing over Drew Brees in free agency in 2006.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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All of these are sins that Trump would likely understand.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the film’s artistry — overflowing with excess and hedonism and an eye for commanding visuals — is impossible to dismiss.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2026
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The best sandwiches toe the line between pure hedonism and health—the bite of vinegar and brine, the crunch of fresh vegetables.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Why does their desire to hurt the American president politically trump their desire to assist the Iranian people achieve a new future for their children, free from the evil of the current regime?—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
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Blood Meridian throws out the Western trope of good versus evil in favor of a nihilist view of a world consumed by violence.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debauchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauchery. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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