debauchery

USAGE SUMMARY

"debauchery" is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
It is used to refer to indulgent, immoral, or wild behavior, or activities that involve excessive drinking, drug use, or sexual activity. For example, "The party quickly descended into a wild night of drunken debauchery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the Sydney Writers' festival this week to talk not only about that book but participate in a session on humour, debauchery and manners, here's your chance to put a question to one of the most controversial and distinctive writers of our times.

The Guardian - Books

He had a reputation for debauchery and a taste for the exotic, which would surely have predisposed him to a new drug, but the truth was that he rarely, if indeed ever, indulged.

The Guardian - Books

The LSE flyer, handed out at the freshers' fair a week ago, described women as "mingers", "trollops" and "slags", said the club would not tolerate "outright homosexual debauchery" and encouraged would-be members to do their best to "pull a sloppy bird".

The Guardian

In the days of Afghan austerity, such celebrations are thought to be callous overspending at best, and un-Islamic debauchery at worst.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rooms from $375 to $575 plus tax, [phone], stonoverfarm.com Checking into a sumptuous suite at the Mandarin Oriental – an imposing, regal hotel perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River – peroxide rocker Billy Idol set about cooking up a maelstrom of debauchery with an assembly of prostitutes.

The Guardian - Travel

Rooms from $103 to $309 plus tax, [phone], gunterhotel.com If there were an award for the Hotel That Had Been Privy to the Most Debauchery, this Comfort Inn – formerly Swingos Celebrity Inn – would be a contender for the gong.

The Guardian - Travel

The article offered several religious justifications for this, among them the claim that it would halt debauchery.

The Economist

If state and media conspire to keep quiet about the debauchery of politicians, might it not be easier to hide other misdeeds, such as corruption?When Mr Strauss-Kahn was up for the IMF job, Jean Quatremer, a correspondent for Libération, a French newspaper, was one of the few voices expressing concern about his libertine ways.

The Economist

Now they are locked in a conflict that is every bit as intense as one of Mr Martin's, if slightly less well provided with incest, debauchery and parricide.At its heart lies the competition between Apple's iOS mobile operating system, which powers the iPhone and the iPad tablet computer, and Android, Google's rival operating system, which is used by a host of manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC.

The Economist

Human Rights Watch, a pressure group, reports that homosexuals are often entrapped, subjected to humiliating "forensic" examinations and given long jail terms for "debauchery".Other groups singled out include indigent street children and Shias, a small minority in Egypt.

The Economist

The law created an oversight committee to watch for positive depictions of these ills, along with crime, theft, hatred, debauchery and acts "liable to undermine morality" among the young.Taken literally, the law suggests that an ideal comic-book hero would resemble an overgrown boy scout, whose adventures involve pluck, fair play, restrained violence and no sex.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "debauchery" when you want to emphasize the scandalous and unrestrained nature of indulgent activities, particularly those involving sex, alcohol, or drugs. It adds a layer of moral judgment to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "debauchery" when describing harmless fun or celebrations. "Debauchery" implies a level of moral corruption and excess that goes beyond simple enjoyment. Instead, use words like "festivity" or "revelry" /s/revelry if the context is celebratory but not morally questionable.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "debauchery" is as a noun, referring to the indulgence in immoral or sensual pleasures. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, supported by examples from various contexts. It often acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a state or activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Debauchery" is a noun that describes excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures and immoral behavior. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct term, and the examples show that it is often used in news and media, as well as encyclopedic content, to critique or describe morally questionable situations. While it is generally considered a neutral term, it can lean towards formal depending on the context. When writing, use "debauchery" to emphasize the scandalous and unrestrained nature of indulgent activities, but be careful not to confuse it with simple merriment. Alternatives include "licentiousness" and "profligacy", which offer similar shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

licentious behavior

Focuses on the unrestrained and immoral aspect of conduct.

dissolute living

Emphasizes a life of moral corruption and indulgence in pleasure.

profligacy

Highlights the wastefulness and extravagance associated with immoral conduct.

wantonness

Implies recklessness and lack of restraint in pursuing pleasure.

immoral excess

Directly points to exceeding moral boundaries.

hedonistic abandonment

Focuses on surrendering to pleasure-seeking without regard for consequences.

degraded conduct

Underscores the lowering of moral standards.

abandoned morality

Suggests a complete disregard for moral principles.

unrestrained indulgence

Highlights the lack of control over one's desires.

revelry

Implies boisterous and often unrestrained celebration or merrymaking, which can sometimes border on debauchery depending on the context.

FAQs

What does "debauchery" mean?

"Debauchery" refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures and immoral behavior, often involving activities like excessive drinking, drug use, or sexual activity.

How can I use "debauchery" in a sentence?

You can use "debauchery" to describe situations where behavior is excessively indulgent and morally questionable. For example: "The party quickly turned into a scene of drunken "debauchery"."

What are some synonyms for "debauchery"?

Some synonyms for "debauchery" include "licentiousness", "dissoluteness", and "profligacy". These words also describe immoral or excessive behavior.

Is "debauchery" a formal or informal word?

"Debauchery" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it generally carries a negative connotation and is often used in more serious or analytical discussions of immoral behavior.