as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
pictorial advertisements for chic clothing and fragrances in which drug addiction and other forms of moral turpitude are depicted as alternative fashion statements
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Recent Examples of turpitude
Although federal law has long said that a legal permanent resident can be denied reentry into the United States if clear and convincing evidence exists that the resident committed a crime of moral turpitude, Lau says that border officials can deny admission even without such evidence.
—
Leah Litman,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Zvyagintsev has never cast himself as a dissident; his dense stories of corrupt authority and moral turpitude could arguably be told anywhere.
—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
The Fed Chair and Fed Governors could be removed before the end of their term only for cause, which is generally taken to mean moral turpitude rather than differences in opinion with the administration over how the Fed meets its mission.
—
Raghuram Rajan,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Some 500 years later — in between which came the turpitude and disruption of the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism — African countries are seeking to once again prioritize building trade between themselves, seeing it as essential to boosting their collective role in the global economy.
—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turpitude
Leah Litman,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Zvyagintsev has never cast himself as a dissident; his dense stories of corrupt authority and moral turpitude could arguably be told anywhere.
—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
The Fed Chair and Fed Governors could be removed before the end of their term only for cause, which is generally taken to mean moral turpitude rather than differences in opinion with the administration over how the Fed meets its mission.
—
Raghuram Rajan,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Some 500 years later — in between which came the turpitude and disruption of the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism — African countries are seeking to once again prioritize building trade between themselves, seeing it as essential to boosting their collective role in the global economy.
—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turpitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turpitude
Noun
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What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes.
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Over time, this can increase electrical resistance, generate excess heat, and accelerate battery degradation.
Noun
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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.
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When self-interest matures into corruption, the machine begins to strain.
Cite this Entry
“Turpitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turpitude. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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