Debauchery
noun /dɪˈbɔː.tʃər.i/ — Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs
Definition
Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, drugs, or other sensual pleasures — typically implying moral dissolution through extreme excess. The word carries the weight of abandonment: one has left one's previous restraint entirely behind.
Beyond the definition
Debauchery is excess with an exit — the French root means 'to leave the workshop'. It captures the act of departing from productive, disciplined life into pure indulgence. The word carries more drama than the reality usually warrants.
Origin & history
French: débaucher (to lead astray from duty). Originally meant 'to cause to leave one's workshop' — abandoning work for pleasure. Later developed the broader meaning of moral dissolution through excess.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'Debauchery' literally means 'leaving the workshop' — abandoning labour for pleasure.
The biography described the last years of the poet's life as years of debauchery. His friends called it living.
Debauchery implies a previous state of virtue — which is why it sounds better than it probably was.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Debauchery” when the meaning fits your context: Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, drugs, or other sensual pleasures — typically implying moral dissolution through extreme excess. The word carries the weight of abandonment: one has left one's previous restraint entirely behind.
Synonyms
dissipation, dissolution, excess, licentiousness
Antonyms
virtue, temperance, restraint
Related words
Debauchery vs excess
Debauchery is specific to hedonistic, moral dissipation. Excess is a general, neutral term for having too much of anything.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Abandonment in Intensity
A conductor stands in the middle of an orchestra with expansive, intense gestures.
The conductor's total abandonment to the musical peak mirrors the moral dissolution found in debauchery. By leaving behind all restraint in favor of complete, all-consuming energy, the conductor reaches a level of extreme excess that defines this state of dissolution.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Debauchery" mean?
Debauchery is noun meaning: Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs. Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, drugs, or other sensual pleasures — typically implying moral dissolution through extreme excess. The word carries the weight of abandonment: one has left one's previous restraint entirely behind.
Where does the word "Debauchery" come from?
French: débaucher (to lead astray from duty). Originally meant 'to cause to leave one's workshop' — abandoning work for pleasure. Later developed the broader meaning of moral dissolution through excess.