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

But also the endless torture, rape, and other depravity. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025

The finished film raises fascinating, sometimes troubling questions about the tenuous line that can exist between journalism and vigilantism, as well as our strange fascination with watching stories about depravity. —Brent Lang, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025

The series, which stars Kaitlyn Dever, is slick and stylized, and illuminates the depravity of its scammer story as well as the horrors young women face in the health care system. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025

The depravity of human greed at its most despicable and depraved on full display. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

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