Definition
To lead someone into excessive indulgence in pleasure, drinking, or immoral behavior; to corrupt morally.
Etymology
From Old French debauchier (to lead away from duty), possibly from de- + bauch (origin uncertain, possibly related to 'bench' in sense of leaving one's post). The meaning shifted from leading away to moral degradation.
Kelly Says
The word originally meant deserting your post or work—it described soldiers who abandoned duty to go partying, which evolved into our modern meaning of any wild excess!
Translations
BNবাংলা
অপব্যবহার
o-pa-b-ya-ha-ar
CACatalà
corrompre
ko-ro-m-preh
CSČeština
zneužít
z-nju-zit
DEDeutsch
verdorben
fer-DOR-ben
ELΕλληνικά
αμαρτία
am-ar-tee-ah
ESEspañol
debauchar
deh-bah-CHAR
FISuomi
rikastaa
ri-kas-taa
FRFrançais
débaucher
deh-bo-SHAY
HUMagyar
megaláz
me-ga-laz
IDBahasa Indonesia
melukai
me-lu-kai
IGIG
ịgba ọsọ
ee-gba oh-soh
ITItaliano
debaucare
deh-bah-KA-reh
KMKM
ប្រព្រឹត្ត
pra-preat
KO한국어
부패시키다
bu-pa-e-si-ki-da
MRMR
व्याभिचार
vya-abhi-chaar
MSBahasa Melayu
menzalimi
men-za-li-mi
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော်
kyun-taw
NLNederlands
verdorven
ver-DOR-ven
PLPolski
obrzydzać
ob-rzi-DZAT'
PTPortuguês
debauchar
deh-bah-CHAR
RORomână
a corupe
a ko-roo-pe
RUРусский
развращать
raz-vra-SHAT'
SVSvenska
förvilla
for-vil-la
SWKiswahili
kuhari
ku-ha-ri
TAதமிழ்
வஞ்சிக்க
van-chik-ka
TEతెలుగు
వ్యభిచారం
vy-a-bi-cha-ra-m
THไทย
เสื่อมโทรม
seu-em-to-rom
TLTL
maging-maging
ma-ging-ma-ging
TRTürkçe
kötüye kullanmak
köt-ü-ye ku-la-n-mak
UKУкраїнська
опорочити
o-po-ro-chiti
VITiếng Việt
dâm ô
dam-ow
ZUZU
ukuthwala
koo-th-wa-la
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically coded as male transgression (sexual excess, drunkenness), often with implicit criticism of women's 'corruption' of men. Modern usage retains moral judgment that disproportionately targets women's sexuality.
Inclusive Usage
Use with awareness that 'debauchery' often carries gendered moral judgment. When criticizing excess, specify the behavior, not character stereotypes.
Inclusive Alternatives
["excess","indulgence","intoxication","transgression"]