depraved
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See immoral.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of depraved
Explanation
Depraved is the way to describe perverse behavior lacking moral decency. It's hard to be depraved when you spend your days defining words at your computer, but the mind does wander. Some would argue that morality is a subjective thing, so one man's depravity is another man's good time. Generally speaking, however, depraved is the "go-to word" when describing perverts and serial killers. Some rock stars seek out a depraved reputation, but it's mostly for show — they can be as dull as the rest of us.
Vocabulary lists containing depraved
Flowers for Algernon
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Just Mercy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However perverse and depraved the ideas that animate the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah, they inspire the kind of conviction that motivates people to fight grimly on against the odds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Yet its parties, even at their most decadent and depraved, were never quite cool.
From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2026
But even people who are really depraved have something they love, he says.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
Intimately acquainted with Richard’s malignity, these ruined royals know only too well the toll of his depraved machinations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
She began to cry, her depraved face breaking into an infant’s grimace; and they moved away from her, leaving her dirty in a dirty room, alone to face her Maker.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
