DEBAUCHING Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

debauching

verb

present participle of debauch

as in corrupting

to lower in character, dignity, or quality the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew to the point where they no longer acted like naval professionals

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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 debauching The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauching

Verb

Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.

— CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.

— George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of corrupting

Verb

Overtourism can be highly problematic for cities, threatening to drive housing crises via short-term rentals, straining infrastructure to the breaking point and degrading local culture.

— Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
The material can power reactions such as oxidizing organic molecules, potentially degrading pollutants, sterilizing surfaces, or enabling photocatalytic chemistry to continue later in the dark.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026

Definition of degrading

Verb

The German lender notes a growing divergence between the nation's weakening fiscal position and its thriving corporate balance sheets.

— Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 9 July 2026
The effect results in the typical east-to-west trade winds weakening or even sometimes reversing, allowing warmer water from the western Pacific to move eastward.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

Definition of subverting

Verb

Loose-leaf tea also utilizes larger grounds and leaf particles, which prevent the tea from deteriorating as quickly as similar bagged options.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
But Pavarini says the road remains in deteriorating condition despite the HOA signing a roughly $406,000 construction contract.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Definition of poisoning

Verb

Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
The autocrat delights in humiliating so many people, not least tech billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who once opposed him.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026

Definition of humiliating

Browse Nearby Words

debauches

debauching

debilitate

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“Debauching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauching. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of debauching

verb

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