1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sensuality
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures
a night of drinking and debauchery at the gentleman's club
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
It isn’t accompanied with authorities investigating disappearances, murders, corruption or even necessarily halting the flow of drugs.—
Angélica Durán-Martínez,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But this candid and absorbing memoir is also a stark reminder of the corruptions of power, the uncertainties of revolution and the frequent viciousness of human nature.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The result has been a rapid and systematic degradation of Iran’s clout across the Middle East over the past 2½ years, a seismic change that led directly to this weekend’s devastating attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.—
Adam Geller,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and other wildlife are harmed by water quality degradation from road salt treatments, which have further impacts on the local ecosystem (and human health, when our water supply gets saltier).—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
He’s lost without her nurturing sensuality.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The brand continues to define modern American luxury with a rare balance of restraint and sensuality.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This approach can be applied to any behavior, including crime and immorality.—
Christopher M. Filley,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Forehand, in his own words, explains to NBC News the before, during and after of the trick that could give him Olympic immorality.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
They are fueled by hatred, greed and corruption and do not care about America or what is good for it.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Shot locally in Los Angeles and based on an original idea by Nicholas Geisler (Bunk’d), who here made his feature directorial debut, Gulf of America follows a family who inherits a decaying desert motel, triggering an inescapable descent into greed, psychosis, and terror.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Reading Nicholas Mosley’s nonfiction reveals a writer concerned with the sins of the past, with political maneuvering at the highest levels of government, and of personal and ideological betrayals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Robert Bresson, in seeking the essence of sin and grace in the slightest gesture, largely eschewed professionals in order to distill performance to embodiment.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Is there a lesser of two evils?—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
-
His only way of finding any kind of life for himself is to embrace evil, to stop running away from it, to try to stop morally flagellating himself.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debauchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauchery. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
