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to debauch

to debauch

3 9.9
To lead someone into too much drinking, sex, or other wrong acts
  • verb
  • /dɪˈbɔːtʃ/
  • NSFW
translation icon : corromper
  • Through debauched deeds, he wronged every citizen in his fair lands.
  • a debauched life
  • a debauched nation

It was Lennon who said if you want to destroy capitalism, debauch the currency, in other words, print money.

Examples

  • When she spied him dodging among the shadows, she could hardly keep from shouting, "You've debauched a woman with no lawful intent!"

    Fiction book (1991)
  • We'll discuss friendship when you stop debauching my people with drink.

  • I debauch young women to feed my self-esteem; you rescue them to the same end.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • All his gifts, his so-called generosity, were merely bribes to debauch another innocent.

  • He sought to debauch his friends with extravagant parties and temptations.

  • The villain's goal was to debauch the youth of the village and lead them astray.

  • She felt guilty for trying to debauch him into a life of excess and recklessness.

Synonyms

to corrupt
vsto debauch
125 4.5

To make someone act dishonestly, often by giving them money

focuses specifically on leading into sensual excess rather than general dishonest behavior
to debase
vsto debauch
12 7.7

To make someone's morals worse by causing selfish or dishonest behaviour

is more about leading someone into excessive sensual indulgence rather than general corruption
to pervert
vsto debauch
  • NSFW
9 7.9

Cause someone to do things that are morally wrong

puts stronger stress on sensual excess as the main corrupting cause
to subvert
vsto debauch
3 8.4

To make someone behave in a morally wrong way

is narrower, centering on tempting toward excessive sensual pleasures rather than broad overthrow
to demoralize
vsto debauch
  • Formal
1 7.5

To make someone lose their sense of right and wrong

leans more toward causing indulgent sensual behavior instead of general loss of morale
to profane
vsto debauch
1 8.4

To make people less moral by encouraging bad behaviour

highlights excessive sensual enjoyment as the corrupting action rather than general disrespect
to deprave
vsto debauch
  • Formal
1 8.3

To make someone behave badly by giving them wrong ideas

focuses on causing sensual excess instead of simply making someone wicked
to vitiate
vsto debauch
  • Formal
9.9

Make a person lose moral strength or become corrupt

emphasizes active leading into excessive sensual pleasure rather than subtle weakening
to sensualize
vsto debauch
  • NSFW
9.1

Make something seem mainly about physical or sexual pleasure and lower its moral value

is about corrupting a person through excessive sensual pleasure rather than general weakening
to carnalize
vsto debauch
  • NSFW
9.9

To make something worse by treating it as sexual pleasure

targets leading to excessive bodily pleasures rather than broad moral corruption

Antonyms

to purify
  • Formal
28 5.1

To make someone feel morally clean and free from guilt

How Corrupting

to ruin
2.0
to debauch
  • NSFW
3 9.9
to tempt
146 3.3
influence
806 2.3

Surface Forms

debauch infinitive
debauched past
debauched past participle
debauching present participle
debauches third person singular

Etymology

The verb debauch comes from French débaucher, with de- meaning 'away' and the idea of 'leading someone away' from duty or good sense, so to debauch someone is to corrupt them or lead them into excess.