depravity

[ dih-prav-i-tee ]

/ dɪˈpræv ɪ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR depravity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural de·prav·i·ties. for 2.

the state of being depraved.

a depraved act or practice.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of depravity

First recorded in 1635–45; deprave + -ity

Related formsnon·de·prav·i·ty, noun, plural non·de·prav·i·ties.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for depravity

But Dave and his crew kept living the nightmare and probing the depths of depravity through their absurdist, folk-art horror-show.
My Friend Oderus Urungus: GWAR’s Dave Brockie Was a High School Punk Legend|Andy Hinds|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stanley is still in a state of shock from the legacy of deception and depravity left by Bulger.
Whitey Bulger’s Women: Inside the Terror and Glamour of His Ex-Girlfriends|T.J. English|June 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the film, there are plenty of other opportunities for Aniston to underscore the depravity of her character.
Aniston’s F-Word Moment|Ramin Setoodeh|July 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In other words, here's a mother who commits every possible transgression in her descent into depravity.
Hollywood's Bad Mother Obsession|Stephen Farber|December 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST

During those six days of depravity, Thomas suddenly appeared to become a model citizen.
Teen Hostage Horror|Lynn Waddell|September 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Heal my depravity, O God; take sin out of this heart; O fill it with love to thee, and to all my fellow-sinners.
The Power of Faith|Isabella Graham
Revenge is born of depravity rather than duty, and given a setting of physical horrors and unnatural lust.
The Facts About Shakespeare|William Allan Nielson
It is a sad thing when others have to tell us of the depravity of our children.
Mrs Whittelsey's Magazine for Mothers and Daughters|Various
Still, as a legislator he has to consider what is the 'depravity' of disposition indicated by different kinds of conduct.
The English Utilitarians, Volume I.|Leslie Stephen
Between them, seeking to drive him out, they depicted him as a monster of cruelty and depravity.
Marse Henry (Vol. 2)|Henry Watterson

British Dictionary definitions for depravity

depravity

/ (dɪˈprævɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state or an instance of moral corruption

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for depravity

depravity

1640s; see deprave + -ity. Earlier in same sense was pravity.