Word
depraved
Phoneticsde·praved, stress on the second syllable
US/diˈpɹeɪvd/
UK/dɪpɹˈeɪvd/
Definition
adj. behaving in a way that is morally bad or evil. You use this to describe someone who has no sense of right and wrong.
adj. characterised by moral corruption or wickedness. Often used to describe individuals, minds, or specific criminal acts that violate social and ethical norms.
Examples
“The judge described the crime as a depraved act.”
“The novel explores the mind of a depraved villain who feels no remorse for his actions.”
“Philosophers have long debated whether humans are born with a depraved nature or if such moral decay is purely a product of their environment and upbringing.”
Examples
simple
“The judge described the crime as a depraved act.”
contextual
“The novel explores the mind of a depraved villain who feels no remorse for his actions.”
complex
“Philosophers have long debated whether humans are born with a depraved nature or if such moral decay is purely a product of their environment and upbringing.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“No sentence can give those families back what you stole from them through your depraved actions.”
He said all of Dogan’s offending was “completely sexually motivated”.” “The action is slow-burning and absorbing: Simon lopes about town, hiding from depraved monsters and occasionally bludgeoning them to death with a pipe.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/depraved