deprave

[ dih-preyv ]

verb (used with object)

, de·praved, de·prav·ing.

1. to make morally bad or evil; vitiate; corrupt.
2. Obsolete. to defame.

deprave

/ ˌdɛprəˈveɪʃən; dɪˈpreɪv /

verb

1. to make morally bad; corrupt; vitiate
2. obsolete.
   to defame; slander

Derived Forms

• depravation, noun
• deˈpraver, noun

Other Words From

• dep·ra·va·tion [dep-r, uh, -, vey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• de·praver noun
• de·praving·ly adverb
• nondep·ra·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deprave¹

1325–75; Middle English depraven (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dēprāvāre to pervert, corrupt, equivalent to dē- de- + prāv ( us ) crooked + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of deprave¹

C14: from Latin dēprāvāre to distort, corrupt, from de- + prāvus crooked

Example Sentences

An MP has has called for an end to the "depraved" practice of human remains being sold in auction houses and on social media.

From BBC

Two women have been jailed for their part in a monkey torture ring and behaviour described by the judge as "depraved, sickening and wicked".

From BBC

“They ridiculed us and belittled us,” she said of her opponents, adding that they called her “every depraved slur in the book.”

From Los Angeles Times

A student who used AI technology "in the worst possible way" to turn photographs of real children into "depraved" indecent images has been jailed for 18 years.

From BBC

He added that Al Fayed's actions against the numerous women who have shared their experiences were "absolutely beyond despicable and depraved".

From BBC