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Definition of deprave

deprave

/dɪˈpreɪv/
de · prave
Adverb:depravedly
•
Adjective:depraved
•
Past Simple:depraved
•
Past Participle:depraved
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Present Participle:depraving
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deprave Lexical Profile

deprave Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make someone or something morally bad, wicked, or corrupt; to pervert the character or morals of.

Example

"Critics argued that unchecked greed had begun to deprave the institution's founding principles."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for deprave
Antonyms
View all antonyms for deprave

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'deprave' (to corrupt morally) with 'deprive' (to deny someone something they need). While the participial adjective 'depraved' is common in modern English, the base verb 'deprave' is comparatively rare and formal.

• Rhymes for deprave

• Nearby Words

depositor
depository
depot
deprave
depraved
depraver
depravity

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French depraver, from Latin depravare ('to distort, disfigure, or pervert'), formed from the intensive prefix de- ('completely') and pravus ('crooked, deformed, or perverse').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deprave. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deprave
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