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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
But that doesn’t mean that artificially sugared sodas, retail consumption, or social media are depraved, worthless activities akin to the cardinal sin of sloth or the tragic spiral of heroin addiction. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 On Thursday, June 11, Joshua Smith, 35, pleaded guilty to depraved indifference murder in Penobscot County Superior Court in the death of his son, Braxtyn Smith. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 15 June 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
  • Even as the country’s leadership grew more corrupt and repressive, Moscow kept getting more dazzling.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond the shimmying visit, the mystery of who killed Victor is expected to motor the sophomore season’s overarching storyline, including digging into people from the corrupt politician’s shady past.
    — Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Verb
  • Continue reading … HARD LEFT PIVOT — Newsom says Electoral College has 'perverted' US politics in fiery interview.
    — , FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of perverted
Adjective
  • The hospital treats about 175 major pediatric spine cases per year, sparing patients from pain, and in some advanced cases, degraded lung function.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Energy analysts have consistently cautioned that raising Venezuelan output meaningfully will take years and billions of dollars in repairs to degraded infrastructure.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of degraded
Verb
  • This may then seem like yet another story about how Trump has wrecked norms and corrupted the rule of law.
    — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The difference with those films is that all those guys came in corrupted by something or had something mentally going on.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrupted
Adjective
  • During the ride, Normandin-Parker's friend became sick and vomited in the car.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Humans should not touch or approach a dead or sick deer, and household animals should be kept away from carcasses, the center advises.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • Economic data for July showed retail sales and urban investment both weakened, adding to pressure on Beijing to step up support for the remainder of the year.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This view suggests that the sense of shame was collectively weakened by a series of self-interested actors who shattered the social firmament and opened up the gates to chaos.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • On a cold night in November 2011, in a field outside Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, a gang of thugs stormed a Soviet scientific research institute, beat and humiliated the staff and burned the place to the ground.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • My husband was humiliated, he was degraded, and not able to defend himself.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of humiliated
Verb
  • Just as bright, witty, and debauched as their namesake, this unique protagonist is on a path of self-discovery, gaining insight into not just their gender identity, but also their preternatural attraction to transgression and risk.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of debauched

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Depraved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depraved. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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