Depraved
/dɪˈpreɪvd/
Definitions
Marked by corruption or moral perversion; wicked.
/dɪˈpreɪvd/
Morally corrupt; wicked.
The depraved ruler reveled in the suffering of his people.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who does really bad things and doesn't feel bad about it. That's a depraved person. Like, they might enjoy hurting others, which is definitely not okay.
👶 For kids: When someone is depraved, it means they do bad things and don't care if they hurt others.
More Examples
The investigation revealed the depraved actions of the cult leader.
His depraved tendencies led to a life of crime.
How It's Used
"The novel explores the lives of depraved individuals in a dystopian society."
"The study examined the depraved behaviors of the criminal."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *depravare* 'to make worse,' from *de-* 'down, away' + *pravus* 'crooked, perverted'.
Used since the 16th century, the word often appeared in religious and philosophical contexts, describing actions or behaviors considered morally reprehensible.
Memory tip
Think of 'de-' (down, away) and 'praved' (praise, or good). When something is 'depraved', it's gone down from a good state.
Word Origin
"to make worse, corrupt"