Deprave: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to morally corrupting someone or making them wicked. This term has a strong negative connotation.

• The violent video games were said to deprave the youth.
• His association with the criminal gang would only deprave him further.

Used to describe someone who has been morally compromised, typically in relation to positions of power or authority.

• The senator was accused of corrupt practices.
• Money and power often corrupt even the most honorable individuals.

It means to distort or corrupt the original course, meaning, or state of something or someone. The term often carries a highly negative connotation.

• She accused him of trying to pervert the course of justice.
• His interpretation of the holy texts was deemed to pervert their true meaning.

Typically used to describe the act of reducing the quality or value of something or someone, often morally.

• His vulgar jokes debased the otherwise elegant dinner party.
• The politician debased himself by lying to the public.

Refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, often to a morally corrupt extent.

• The rockstar's lifestyle was defined by debauch behavior.
• He debauched himself with nights of heavy drinking and reckless partying.

This word is typically used to describe the moral corruption or degradation of a person or group. It carries a negative connotation and suggests a significant decline in morals or ethics.

• The constant exposure to violence in the media can deprave young minds.
• Power tends to deprave those who hold it for too long.

Use this term when referring to the presence of harmful or unwanted substances in something, especially in environmental or scientific contexts.

• Industrial waste can contaminate water supplies and pose serious health risks.
• Be sure to avoid contaminating the sterile environment of the laboratory.

This word is often used to describe the act of making air, water, or soil dirty or harmful, usually due to human activities. It has a strong negative connotation related to environmental harm.

• Factories that pollute the air should be strictly regulated.
• Plastic waste continues to pollute the oceans, affecting marine life.

This term is often used in a broader sense to indicate contamination or corruption, affecting the quality, validity, or reputation of something or someone. It usually has a subtle, but still negative, connotation.

• The scandal tainted the politician’s career beyond repair.
• Improper storage may taint the flavor of fine wine.