depravity

noun

de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈpra-və-tē 

 also  -ˈprā-

plural depravities

1

: a corrupt act or practice

the depravities of war

2

: the quality or state of being corrupt, evil, or perverted : the quality or state of being depraved

He is awed by its fabulous wealth but deeply troubled by what he sees as its moral depravity …

—Nicholas D. Kristof

Synonyms

• abjection
• corruption
• corruptness
• debasement
• debauchery
• decadence
• decadency
• degeneracy
• degenerateness
• degeneration
• degradation
• demoralization
• dissipatedness
• dissipation
• dissoluteness
• libertinage
• libertinism
• perversion
• pervertedness
• rakishness
• turpitude

Examples of depravity in a Sentence

He was sinking into a life of utter depravity.

People were shocked by the depravity of her actions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even Hulu’s Rivals could frighten you with the depths of its amorous characters’ depravity. —Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024

Everyone makes a choice, succumbing to the inertia of their depravity or leaping into the motion of change. —Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024

Even in a decade marred by online grifters, shameless politicians, and an alternative right-wing-media complex pushing anti-science fringe theories, the events of the past few weeks stand out for their depravity and nihilism. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2024

The group’s utter depravity toward local populations as well as its desire to supplant governments was ultimately its undoing. —Daniel Depetris, TIME, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see deprave

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depravity

• total depravity

Kids Definition

depravity

noun

de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈprav-ət-ē 

plural depravities

1

: a corrupt act or practice

2

: the quality or state of being depraved

Legal Definition

depravity

noun

de·​prav·​i·​ty di-ˈpra-və-tē 

plural depravities

1

: the quality or state of being depraved

2

: a corrupt act or practice