depraved 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈprāvd How to pronounce depraved (audio)
Definition of depravednext
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards the depraved actions of a gang of madmen who had gained control of an entire nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

depraved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of deprave
as in perverted
to lower in character, dignity, or quality the belief that pornography depraves society as a whole

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 depraved
Adjective
It could be argued the final episode spends too much screentime focusing on — and even trying to understand — someone so depraved, particularly when his victims aren’t afforded the same treatment. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 3 June 2026 Appearing to have found her depraved people, Winifried vows to claim legitimacy by becoming a member of the Pounds family and making Miss Lamb her lady’s maid. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Verb
Online court records show he is charged with first-degree murder dangerous depraved without premeditation. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Murdering a teenaged iconic athlete shows how deeply depraved the Iranian leadership is. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depraved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depraved
  1. corrupt
  2. perverted
  3. degraded
  4. corrupted
  5. sick
  6. weakened
  7. humiliated
  8. debauched
Adjective
  • Harry and the six other high-profile claimants failed to prove their allegations that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through methods including private investigators, deception, phone hacking and corrupt payments.
    — Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • After all, this was FIFA, the infamously corrupt governing body of international soccer that seems to function not based on its rulebook but on the whims of a few guys in a room.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
Definition of corrupt
Verb
  • More important to Bernstein is what that lust reveals about her characters’ deepest needs, specifically how their need to care and be cared for can be as easily perverted as any other form of desire.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
  • Georgia Bernstein’s unsettling directorial debut focuses on how warped and perverted those desires become when they’re taken to their insatiable extremes.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of perverted
Adjective
  • Old potting soil may not only potentially harbor pests and diseases that will impact the health of your plants, but soil from previous seasons can become a bit degraded and drain too fast or too slowly for your plant's needs.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
  • Faster delivery with degraded quality just accelerates technical debt and erodes user trust.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of degraded
Verb
  • The unsightly mushroom could have corrupted her maids’ morals, or even their health.
    — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026
  • If religion is corrupted by breaking down the wall of separation, much the same is true of the state.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of corrupted
Adjective
  • If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • All three, the panel noted, have weakened or dropped earlier pledges to halt development on their own if certain red lines came into view, and in recent years softened their resistance to military uses.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 7 July 2026
  • It is weakened by surprises, side channels, performative challenge and unclear authority.
    — David Ribott, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • The novel follows 16-year-old Abby, who is left humiliated after a private photo gets shared around school.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Definition of humiliated
Verb
  • And regular Kate Moss’s turn on the decks one memorable, and debauched, night in 2015 had revelers literally swinging from the chandeliers.
    — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 13 June 2026
  • The dark comedy follows a wealthy socialite, Stacy (Cherry), and a struggling writer, Becky (Chalotra), who are brought together at a lavish, debauched New York party.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of debauched

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Cite this Entry

“Depraved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depraved. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of depraved for Spanish Speakers

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