debauchery

noun

di-ˈbȯ-chə-rē How to pronounce debauchery (audio)
Definition of debaucherynext
1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior the minister decried what he called the debauchery of today's society

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3
as in sensuality
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures a night of drinking and debauchery at the gentleman's club

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debauchery Children are well catered for, adults can oscillate between wellness and mild debauchery, and the sheer variety of spaces means groups can coexist without being on top of one another. — Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026 But that’s downright quaint compared to the opulent shindigs and fabled debauchery of the home’s previous owner. — Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026 But this Roundabout production at Studio 54 — the site of glittering debauchery of another era — just isn’t all that much fun, being mostly effortful, maddening and finally exhausting. — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 Set the scene Pigalle, situated at the foot of Montmartre, may have shaken off its reputation for debauchery but the neighborhood nonetheless preserves a seductive energy, a holdover from its red-light-district days. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauchery
  1. corruption
  2. degradation
  3. sensuality
  4. immorality
  5. greed
  6. sin
  7. hedonism
  8. evil
Noun
  • The two candidates have gone head-to-head in recent weeks over support of police and plans to fight corruption in what’s sure to be one of the top races to watch this fall.
    — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The alleged corruption occurred between 2019-24 while Hédouville headed the Office of Citizen Protection, the government agency charged with safeguarding human rights.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • The species’ coastal habitats, such as mangroves and reefs, have also suffered loss and degradation due to urban development and climate change.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There is no warping, no heat distortion and no structural degradation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of degradation
Noun
  • The aural experience, overall, has a velvety, glimmering sensuality.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Indeed, while shimmering from head to toe, the Valentino dress retained simplicity and sensuality inn equal measure classic and contemporary — not an easy feat to achieve, especially while promoting a series rooted in the ’80s aesthetic.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 July 2026
Definition of sensuality
Noun
  • Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).
    — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Definition of immorality
Noun
  • More than three-quarters of the world's cobalt supply lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose abundant resources have drawn greed and grifters for centuries.
    — Ramtin Arablouei, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Political radicals have found purchase in Democratic primaries in part because of disgust with our present system of capitalist greed, self-dealing and multi-card monte with all cards in the president du jour’s hands.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of greed
Noun
  • Summaries of their sins and absurdities have now filled several books, but a sampler is instructive.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Moro scored for Argentina from a free kick after a five meter scrum after Australia had defended stoutly with 14 men, with Harry Potter in the sin bin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • But what promises to be a night of hedonism quickly becomes something much more complicated, as Frankie and Taylor are forced to confront what has been left unsaid about their friendship and respective futures.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The drug’s relative obscurity has allowed its champions to shake off the baggage of the nineteen-sixties, and to position its use, not as hippie hedonism but as a medical intervention compatible with patriotic duty and Christian faith.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hedonism
Noun
  • Conceived as the female counterpart to Superman and Batman, the heroine is an Amazon who fights against injustice and the forces of evil, driven by an ideal of equality and peace.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The San Francisco Ballet production, which debuted in 2024, retells the myth of Pandora, who opened the box that unleashed humanity’s evil into the world.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of evil

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Cite this Entry

“Debauchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauchery. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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