1
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
regards the widespread acceptance of gambling as another sign of the depravity of today's society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
a section of the city long known as den of depravity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sinfulness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
the depravity of the demons and devils in many tales of horror
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 depravity
Marc makes an example of the penitent, powerless Jeanne, reminding the rest of his flock of the punishment for apostasy and using her rough time among the heathens as proof of why none under his control should ever want to trade his order for such modern sin and depravity.
—
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Those orcas were well within their rights to take their revenge, carrying out Mother Nature’s punishment against humanity for its rapacious depravity.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Her paintings preserve a child’s unguarded but uncomprehending view of depravity.
—Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Taken together, this network continues to expose the depravity of what these women endured, and to demand accountability from a society that has closed its eyes to the horrors for far too long.
—Pramila Jayapal, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for depravity
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Those orcas were well within their rights to take their revenge, carrying out Mother Nature’s punishment against humanity for its rapacious depravity.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Her paintings preserve a child’s unguarded but uncomprehending view of depravity.
—Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Taken together, this network continues to expose the depravity of what these women endured, and to demand accountability from a society that has closed its eyes to the horrors for far too long.
—Pramila Jayapal, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for depravity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depravity
Noun
-
The building had long-term degradation from corrosion, too.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
-
Researchers worldwide continue to struggle with issues such as low ionic conductivity, interface degradation, manufacturing complexity, and cost.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
The council made similar appointments when Patrick Cannon stepped down in 2014 after he was indicted on public corruption charges and in 2013 when Anthony Foxx left the city to become the federal secretary of transportation.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
-
When self-interest matures into corruption, the machine begins to strain.—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
Noun
-
Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
-
This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The movie’s gravest sin, though, might be its very existence.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
-
Do not allow the sins of the past to overwhelm, to drown the present.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The island village is beset by sea hags, serial killers, creepy clowns and other evils that interfere with Tom’s dream of turning Widow’s Bay into a Martha’s Vineyard-like tourist destination.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
And evil and injustice ultimately never prevails over the grace of God for those who adhere to the Golden Rule.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
According to Reuters, the United States and European Union raised concerns that the resolution could be interpreted as creating a hierarchy among crimes against humanity by treating some atrocities as more serious than others.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2026
-
The genocidal atrocities uncovered in Bucha were televised internationally.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).—
Emily Guskin,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
Following this tendency might finally cure us not only of indigestion but also the ancient immorality of eating other organisms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depravity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depravity. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
