DEBAUCH Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'debauch' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of debauch are corrupt , debase , deprave , pervert , and vitiate . While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence. // the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

Q: When would 'corrupt' be a good substitute for 'debauch'?

While the synonyms corrupt and debauch are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity. // the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

Q: Where would 'debase' be a reasonable alternative to 'debauch'?

The synonyms debase and debauch are sometimes interchangeable, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity. // commercialism has debased the holiday

Q: When could 'deprave' be used to replace 'debauch'?

Although the words deprave and debauch have much in common, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences. // the claim that society is depraved by pornography

Q: When is 'pervert' a more appropriate choice than 'debauch'?

While in some cases nearly identical to debauch , pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal. // perverted the original goals of the institute

Q: When might 'vitiate' be a better fit than 'debauch'?

The words vitiate and debauch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect. // a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

debauch

verb

di-ˈbȯch

Definition of debauch next

as in to degrade

to lower in character, dignity, or quality the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew to the point where they no longer acted like naval professionals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word debauch different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of debauch are corrupt, debase, deprave, pervert, and vitiate. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

When would corrupt be a good substitute for debauch?

While the synonyms corrupt and debauch are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

Where would debase be a reasonable alternative to debauch?

The synonyms debase and debauch are sometimes interchangeable, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

When could deprave be used to replace debauch?

Although the words deprave and debauch have much in common, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

When is pervert a more appropriate choice than debauch?

While in some cases nearly identical to debauch, pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

When might vitiate be a better fit than debauch?

The words vitiate and debauch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

Examples 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 debauch Life is debauched and consistent, until that handsome twentysomething gent wanders into Lee’s favorite watering hole. —

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024 That doesn’t seem especially forbidden or debauched. —

Chris Klimek, Vulture, 17 July 2024 Instead, Mixtape Pluto is subterranean and nocturnal, hedonistic one minute and aching with regrets the next, debauched but wounded. —

Christopher R. Weingarten, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2024 On the evidence of this savage industry satire, the experience was souring, dehumanizing and debauching. —

Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024 Snook plays not just the eternally young but damnably debauched Dorian Gray, but every one of the 26 parts in two unbroken hours of ceaselessly kinetic, highly choreographed, tech-heavy action. —

Demetrios Matheou, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 As debauched and dirty as our film is, it’s still done so intentionally and tastefully. —

Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2023 That voice — languid, searching, slightly debauched — was once the centerpiece of a complete and holistic text. —

James Robins, Vulture, 1 May 2023 Despite its enduring popularity, the mojito is saddled with a bit of a bad reputation among cocktail cognoscenti: Overzealous bartenders often debauch it with too much sugar, too much booze, or fruit and other flavors, misdeeds that add more color than coherence. —

Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauch

Verb

Alarming figures indicate that 40% of the earth’s land is already degraded, impacting half of the human population and half of the global GDP, underscoring the severity of the challenge faced by communities today.

— Sanam Mahoozi, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
There are a number of ways that these tiny pieces of plastic can become airborne, including from sea spray, textiles sitting in landfills interacting with the wind, degrading tires as people drive, and more.7 Wildfire smoke is another common way people breathe in microplastics, Johnson said.

— Brian Mastroianni, Health, 7 Jan. 2025