Depravity is a noun meaning severe moral corruption or wickedness, the state of being thoroughly bad. To use depravity in a sentence, name the person or act and let the word carry the judgement, as in “The court described the crimes as acts of depravity.” It is a strong, formal word, so it suits grave wrongdoing.
Depravity at a glance
- Depravity is a noun; its plural is depravities, and the related adjective is depraved.
- The main sense is a state of severe moral corruption, with a countable sense for wicked acts.
- The fixed phrases are acts of depravity and a life of depravity.
- The word belongs to formal, moral and religious writing rather than casual speech.
- The commonest error is confusing depravity with depravation and deprivation.
What does depravity mean?
Depravity is a noun meaning extreme moral wickedness or the state of being morally corrupt. The Cambridge entry for depravity records the moral sense, and the plural depravities names individual wicked acts. A person who is morally corrupt is evil in the strong sense, and depravity is the settled state behind that word. It sits close to iniquity, though iniquity often adds a flavour of injustice.
| Sense | Plain meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State of corruption | Settled moral wickedness | The novel traces his slow descent into depravity. |
| Wicked act | One concrete act of corruption | Historians recorded the depravities of the regime. |
| Theological phrase | A teaching about human sinfulness | The sermon explored total depravity. |
A crime, a prank or a small lie is not depravity; the word is reserved for acts that offend against deep moral standards.
How do you use depravity in a sentence?
The noun travels in a small set of phrases, and each one sets the scale of the judgement. The pattern with of names whose wickedness is meant.
| Pattern | Example | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| acts of depravity | The report listed acts of depravity. | individual wicked deeds |
| a life of depravity | He abandoned a life of depravity. | a sustained immoral course |
| sink or descend into depravity | The character sinks into depravity. | a gradual moral fall |
| the depravity of + noun | She wrote about the depravity of the trade. | names a corrupt system |
| moral or human depravity | The essay examines human depravity. | frames the topic abstractly |
Depravity in a sentence: examples across contexts
The word keeps its weight in every setting, from a history essay to a news column. Its formality is what signals that the writer means something grave.
| Context | Example sentence | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | Our teacher explained that depravity means serious wrongdoing. | gives a plain definition for pupils |
| News report | Investigators described a pattern of depravity over many years. | reports grave findings formally |
| Academic writing | The study treats depravity as a social, not personal, failing. | frames it as an analytical concept |
| Literary criticism | The villain embodies the depravity of a whole society. | reads a character as a symbol |
| Religious writing | The sermon warned against a life of depravity. | uses the moral register fully |
| Legal writing | The judgment weighed the depravity of the offence. | sets the seriousness of a crime |
| Conversation | Calling a prank depravity would be far too strong. | shows the word’s high threshold |
| History | Chroniclers condemned the depravities of the occupation. | uses the plural for repeated acts |
Depravity vs corruption
Both words describe wrongdoing, yet they point at different targets. Corruption is the abuse of power or trust, while depravity is the moral condition itself. A clerk who steals is corrupt; a system devoted to cruelty is depraved.
| Attribute | Depravity | Corruption |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Severe moral wickedness | Abuse of power or trust |
| Scope | A moral condition or wicked acts | Dishonest acts inside a system |
| Connotation | Grave, even religious | Illegal and self-serving |
| Typical subject | People, regimes, desires | Officials, deals, institutions |
| Implies | Deep evil | Betrayed responsibility |
Use corruption for a betrayed duty and depravity for genuine moral evil. Pair it with debauchery only when excess is also involved, since that word points to indulgence rather than pure wickedness, and with baseness when the emphasis is on something low and mean.
Word forms and grammar of depravity
The family is built on the verb deprave and the adjective depraved, which is the form most sentences actually need. Depravation exists but is rare and easily confused with deprivation.
| Form | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depravity | noun, singular | Depravity is the theme of the novel. |
| depravities | noun, plural | The diary lists his depravities. |
| depraved | adjective | They called the scheme depraved. |
| deprave | verb | Bad company can deprave young minds. |
| depravation | noun, rare and formal | Prefer depravity in modern writing. |
| depravedly | adverb, rare | Rarely used; rephrase instead. |
Common mistakes with depravity
He is a depravity.Correct: He is depraved. Rule: depravity is the condition, while depraved describes the person.Years of depravation left the family hungry.Correct: Years of deprivation left the family hungry. Rule: deprivation means lacking necessities; depravation means corruption.The messy office was pure depravity.Correct: The messy office was disorderly. Rule: depravity needs moral evil, not untidiness.She committed a depravity by arriving late.Correct: Arriving late is a small fault. Rule: the word is far too strong for minor misbehaviour.The depravity of the building was obvious.Correct: The decay of the building was obvious. Rule: depravity applies to people and acts, not to physical condition.
Practice using depravity
- Fill in the blank: The judge spoke of the ____ of the offence.
- Choose the better word: A dishonest official is guilty of (depravity / corruption).
- Correct the error: He is a depravity for cheating his friends.
- Build a sentence: use acts of depravity about a historical report.
- Spot the register: which sentence belongs in a formal essay? (a) The regime sank into depravity. (b) The regime went totally bad.
- Fill in the blank: The adjective from depravity is ____.
Answers
- depravity — the noun names the grave moral character of the act.
- corruption — betrayed public trust is corruption, not pure wickedness.
- He is depraved for cheating his friends — use the adjective for a person.
- The report listed acts of depravity committed during the occupation. — the fixed phrase fits formal history.
- Sentence (a) — its weight and formality suit an essay.
- depraved — the adjective describes the morally corrupt person or act.
The bottom line
Depravity in a sentence names severe moral wickedness, whether a settled condition or a series of wicked acts. The fixed phrases are acts of depravity and a life of depravity, and the adjective depraved is what most sentences about a person need. Keep depravity apart from corruption, which is the abuse of power, and from debauchery, which is indulgence. The word is deliberately heavy, so save it for wrongdoing that deserves the weight.
Frequently asked questions about depravity
What does depravity mean in simple terms?
Depravity means extreme moral wickedness, the state of being thoroughly bad. In simple terms, it is serious wrongdoing rather than a small fault, and it can also name individual wicked acts. The adjective depraved describes a person or act that shows this corruption. The noun keeps a formal, weighty tone in every register.
Is depravity a countable noun?
It works both ways. As a mass noun it names a state, as in a descent into depravity. As a count noun the plural depravities names individual wicked acts, as in the depravities of the regime. Use the uncountable form for a condition and the plural when you can count separate deeds.
What is the difference between depravity and corruption?
Corruption is the abuse of power or trust, which makes it a matter of dishonesty inside a system. Depravity is moral wickedness itself, a quality of a person or an act. A bribed official is corrupt, while a person who takes pleasure in cruelty is depraved. The words overlap but answer different questions.
What is total depravity?
Total depravity is a theological phrase describing the belief that human nature is thoroughly affected by sin. It appears in religious writing and debate rather than everyday speech. Outside theology, the plain noun depravity simply means severe moral wickedness, and the phrase total depravity should be treated as a fixed term.
Have you ever come across a sentence in literature that portrays the deepest depths of human corruption and wickedness? This kind of sentence embodies the essence of depravity, which essentially refers to the moral degradation and extreme immorality that can exist within individuals.
In the context of writing, a sentence with “depravity” typically showcases a grim and unsettling depiction of human behavior or societal decay. These sentences often evoke strong emotions and paint a vivid picture of the darkest aspects of human nature.
7 Examples Of Depravity Used In a Sentence For Kids
- Depravity is when someone does something very bad.
- We should always be kind and not engage in depravity.
- It is important to treat others with respect and not show any depravity.
- Friends should always help each other and not indulge in depravity.
- Depravity can hurt people’s feelings.
- We must be good and not give in to depravity.
- It is better to be honest and kind than to show depravity.
14 Sentences with Depravity Examples
- The depravity of the protagonist in the novel we are studying is a central theme in our literature class.
- We had a heated debate in our political science class about the depravity of corruption in Indian society.
- The film we watched in our sociology class depicted the depravity of child labor in developing countries.
- Our psychology professor discussed the depravity of criminal behavior and its impact on society.
- The depravity of the main character’s actions in the short story we analyzed left us questioning the nature of humanity.
- The depravity of social media influencing young minds was a topic of discussion in our media studies class.
- The documentary we watched in our history class shed light on the depravity of the slave trade in colonial India.
- The depravity of religious extremism was a major theme in our anthropology lecture.
- We had a seminar on the depravity of cyberbullying in our communication studies class.
- The depravity of political corruption highlighted in our economics class served as a cautionary tale for aspiring leaders.
- The professor’s lecture on the depravity of global warming urged us to take action to save the environment.
- The depravity of gender inequality in India was a sobering topic in our women’s studies class.
- The depravity of substance abuse among college students was addressed in our health education workshop.
- The depravity of academic dishonesty was a hot topic of discussion in our ethics class.
How To Use Depravity in Sentences?
Depravity is a noun that refers to a state of moral corruption or wickedness.
To use depravity in a sentence, first identify a situation involving immoral behavior. For example, “The novel depicted the depths of human depravity through its portrayal of a serial killer’s heinous acts.”
When incorporating depravity into a sentence, place it appropriately in relation to the subject and verb. Remember that depravity is the noun form of the word, so it should be used as a subject, object, or complement.
For instance, “The journalist’s investigation uncovered a shocking display of political depravity within the government.”
To deepen your understanding, try using depravity in different contexts and sentence structures. Experiment with variations like “The movie’s portrayal of war revealed the soldiers’ descent into depravity” to practice incorporating it effectively into your writing.
Overall, be mindful of the tone and connotation of depravity when using it in a sentence, as it carries a strong implication of moral decay. With practice and observation, you will become more comfortable incorporating this powerful word into your vocabulary.
Conclusion
In examining the various sentences with the keyword “depravity,” it becomes clear that this term is often associated with extreme moral corruption or wickedness. The examples illustrate acts that are considered deeply immoral or evil, depicting a range of behaviors that shock and disturb. These sentences highlight the darker aspects of human nature and the potential for individuals to engage in depraved acts.
By exploring sentences featuring the word “depravity,” we are confronted with the disturbing reality of moral decay and ethical decline. The use of this term serves to underscore the extent to which individuals can deviate from accepted standards of behavior, leading to consequences that are often tragic and reprehensible. Overall, these sentences with “depravity” shed light on the darker side of humanity and emphasize the importance of upholding moral principles in order to prevent the descent into depraved actions.
