deprave Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
    pervert; debase; profane; misdirect; subvert; debauch; vitiate; corrupt; demoralise; demoralize.
    • debauch the young people with wine and women
    • Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
    • Do school counselors subvert young children?
    • corrupt the morals

WordNet

De*prave" transitive verb
Etymology
L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted, perverse, wicked.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Depraved ; present participle & verbal noun Depraving
Definitions
  1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile. Obs.
    And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.
  2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt.
    Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.
    Syn. -- To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.

Webster 1913