verb
deprave
dih-PRAYV/dɪˈpreɪv/
To corrupt someone's moral character.
Unchecked power can deprave even people who begin with good intentions.
Etymology
The pieces suggest making something thoroughly crooked. Latin already used this image of distortion figuratively for corrupting or leading someone astray; the deeper origin of pravus is unknown.
More examples
- She fears that constant exposure to cruelty will deprave her children.
- Greed depraves him until he betrays his closest friends.
- The prisoners resist their captors' attempts to deprave them.
Forms
deprave · depraves · depraved · depraving
depravity noun — Severe moral corruption or wickedness.
depraved adjective — Morally corrupt in character or conduct.
Similar words
- corrupt
- Broader term covering moral damage and dishonest or illegal influence.
- debase
- Emphasizes lowering someone's moral standards or sense of dignity.