depraved

adjective

de·​praved di-ˈprāvd 

: marked by corruption or evil

a depraved attack

especially : perverted

the work of depraved minds

depravedly

di-ˈprā-vəd-lē 

-ˈprāvd-lē

adverb

depravedness

di-ˈprā-vəd-nəs 

-ˈprāvd-nəs

noun

Synonyms

• corrupt
• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• degraded
• demoralized
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• perverted
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unclean
• unwholesome
• warped

Examples of depraved in a Sentence

the work of depraved minds

He acted with depraved indifference to human suffering.

Recent Examples on the Web

But this act also gave people permission to go far enough—to acknowledge their righteous hatred of our depraved health-care system, and even to conjure something funny or silly or joyous out of that hate. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024

So many iconic movies were made during this time, about this time, that its version of the city as dangerous, depraved, and degraded lingered for decades. —David Lachapelle, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2024

Fans will find much to love in this collection, with plenty of poems that capture his trademark wit and delightfully depraved sense of humor. —Ilana Masad, Them, 25 Nov. 2024

The culture simultaneously cried out about the depraved conditions while also providing its participants with an escape from their harsh reality. —Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see deprave

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

depraved

adjective

de·​praved di-ˈprāvd 

: marked by moral corruption or perversion as shown by a capacity for extreme and wanton physical cruelty

the depraved state of mind of the murderer

the depraved nature of the crime