depravity

noun

di-ˈpra-və-tē How to pronounce depravity (audio)
Definition of depravitynext
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

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2
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society a section of the city long known as den of depravity

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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

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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 To think that the last girl in the Usui line would behave with such depravity! — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 And how, even on a personal level, people allow betrayal and jealousy and envy to whip them up to a level of violence and depravity. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for depravity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depravity
  1. degradation
  2. corruption
  3. sinfulness
  4. sin
  5. badness
  6. evil
  7. atrocity
  8. immorality
Noun
  • Such validation prevents knowledge base degradation affecting future business decisions.
    — Ipsita Mohanty, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Water quality and degradation of lawns or golf courses are also common.
    — Mark Vrtiska, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of degradation
Noun
  • That committee adjourned without action, but Madigan was later convicted on corruption charges and is serving a 7 1/2-year federal prison sentence.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur, which won Cannes’ runner-up prize, the Grand Prix, explores personal, political and patriarchal corruption in contemporary Russia.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of sinfulness
Noun
  • Seven of our contributors gamely shared (some of) their secret sins.
    — Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026
  • And, no, being a writer isn’t a sin, but, at least in my extended family, stories are sacred, and who gets to tell them is of great importance.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
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
Definition of badness
Noun
  • Despite this, some pundits have theorized that Netflix’s aversion to theaters has hurt its films’ chances because the industry sees the company as a force for evil in the cinematic space.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Schaldemose plays grieving widow Anna who returns to Hel Island to bury her late husband after his suicide, and is promptly cast out by the eccentric locals for being a symbol of bad luck and evil.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • Instead, people like this coach in Minnesota are promoting these types of atrocities.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Despite initially losing consciousness herself as a result of the explosion, Maria still vividly remembered the atrocity when recounting it to the Museum of Civilian Voices.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of atrocity
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
  • That immorality takes on many forms across all aspects of society.
    — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 5 May 2026
Definition of immorality

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depraving
depravity
deprecate
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Cite this Entry

“Depravity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depravity. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on depravity

Nglish: Translation of depravity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about depravity

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