1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debauchery
The case was settled within a day for $20 million but sparked furor among former fans who quickly began dissecting Diddy's past on social media, including his infamous White Parties, which allegedly drew stars to lavish mansions where debauchery was encouraged.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Raw, sweaty, and steeped in debauchery, the track chronicles a spiral of booze, heartbreak, and nights lost in a haze of resistol fumes, all layered with his signature gritty rap flow.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
Chefs rarely get swept up in the debauchery of Below Deck, but Bingham may be an exception.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Raw, sweaty, and steeped in debauchery, the track chronicles a spiral of booze, heartbreak, and nights lost in a haze of resistol fumes, all layered with his signature gritty rap flow.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
Chefs rarely get swept up in the debauchery of Below Deck, but Bingham may be an exception.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debauchery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debauchery
Noun
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Advertisement Both Paxton’s baggage and his history of using his office to troll Democrats is a central feature in the Republican primary, which has devolved into a barrage of personal attacks of betrayal, adultery, and corruption.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
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Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine was up one point at 36 after an energy sector corruption scandal forced high-level resignations.—
Geir Moulson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But Puerto Rico’s rapid growth has also raised concerns about sustainability, environmental degradation and cultural erosion.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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Water-soluble chlorophyll, which gives broccoli its signature color, is vulnerable to degradation during prolonged cooking or boiling.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the images from his studio—their panache and sensuality, the rich density of their optical terrains—have made Keïta a lodestar of West Africa’s twentieth-century photography.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
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But Vacancy, her first record solely under Interscope, doesn't completely abandon the self-possession and sensuality that's become synonymous with her sound.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This approach can be applied to any behavior, including crime and immorality.—
Christopher M. Filley,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
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One celebrates the beauty and moral uplift of the Sabbath; the other denounces the immorality of the godless in the fiery manner of a tent-revival preacher.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Corporate greed is out of control.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The synth-heavy soundtrack is back, nodding to the greed-is-good eighties while evoking both an ultra-contemporary cool and an inhuman chill.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But does exchanging flirty messages with Ghislaine Maxwell while he was married three years before Jeffrey Epstein was first publicly accused of wrongdoing in 2006 really constitute a career-ending sin?—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death through his resurrection.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the film’s artistry — overflowing with excess and hedonism and an eye for commanding visuals — is impossible to dismiss.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2026
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The best sandwiches toe the line between pure hedonism and health—the bite of vinegar and brine, the crunch of fresh vegetables.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Also, according to ancient Norse lore, evil and turmoil were brought to the world by the mischievous god Loki, the 13th guest at a dinner party in Valhalla.—
Bailey Allen,
Cape Cod Times,
13 Feb. 2026
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As far as true evil goes, that's not much of a crime at all.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debauchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debauchery. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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