deprave

verb

de·​prave di-ˈprāv 

depraved; depraving

transitive verb

1

archaic : to speak ill of : malign

2

: to make bad : corrupt

especially : to corrupt morally

depravation

ˌde-prə-ˈvā-shən 

ˌdē-ˌprā-

noun

depravement

di-ˈprāv-mənt 

noun

depraver

di-ˈprā-vər 

noun

Synonyms

• abase
• bastardize
• canker
• cheapen
• corrupt
• debase
• debauch
• degrade
• demean
• demoralize
• deteriorate
• lessen
• pervert
• poison
• profane
• prostitute
• subvert
• vitiate
• warp

Choose the Right Synonym for deprave

debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character.

debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Examples of deprave in a Sentence

the belief that pornography depraves society as a whole

Recent Examples on the Web

All writings, unpalatable for one section of the society, cannot be labeled as obscene, vulgar, depraving, prurient and immoral. . . . —Amitava Kumar, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2019

This is especially true when the news operation is clearly on the side of righteousness against a policy as depraved this. —David Zurawik, baltimoresun.com, 15 June 2018

This series follows the trails of their obsession, and takes a deep dive into the killers’ depraved psyches to reveal their darkest secrets as investigators close in to end the killer’s reign of terror. —Michael O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2018

McDonagh complicates Mildred's story by showing how the lust for justice can grow depraved the longer it is denied — a favorite subject of dramatists going back to Aeschylus. —Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 1 Mar. 2018

Glorifying any murderer is sickening. Mocking is depraved. —Ed O’Loughlin, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2018

As depraved a forum as Twitter can be at times, one of its redeeming characteristics is its users' penchant for outing liars in real time. —Matthew Martinez, star-telegram, 18 Feb. 2018

The collusion of Breitbart and Fox News, of the governor of Kentucky and of all three Republican Senate candidates in Alabama, is depraved. —Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 17 Aug. 2017

He was cursed with the possession of a power and authority which no man of narrow mind, bitter prejudices, and inordinate self-estimation can exercise without depraving himself as well as injuring the nation. —Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 30 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French depraver, from Latin depravare to pervert, from de- + pravus crooked, bad

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deprave

verb

de·​prave di-ˈprāv 

depraved; depraving

: to make evil : pervert

depravedly

-ˈprā-vəd-lē

-ˈprāvd-lē

adverb

depravedness

-ˈprā-vəd-nəs

-ˈprāvd-nəs

noun