Depraved vs. Deprived: Simple Word Differences Explained

Understanding the Difference Between “Depraved” and “Deprived”

Even though “depraved” and “deprived” look very much the same, they mean different things. Let’s learn about these two words, their history, how to use them, and a simple trick to tell them apart.

History of the Words

Depraved: The word “depraved” comes from the Latin word “depravare,” which means “to make crooked or corrupt.” Over time, it started to describe someone who is morally bad or corrupt.

Deprived: The word “deprived” comes from the Latin word “deprivare,” which means “to take away from.” It is used to talk about not having something important or necessary.

How to Use Them

Depraved: This word is used to describe someone or something that is very evil or morally bad.

• The villain in the story was truly depraved.
• They arrested the depraved criminal who had caused so much harm.
• The film showed the depraved actions of the character.
• A depraved person does not care about right and wrong.
• His depraved behavior shocked everyone.

Deprived: This word is used to describe someone who lacks necessary things, such as food, sleep, or love.

• The child was deprived of a safe home.
• If you do not sleep well, you will feel sleep deprived.
• The team was deprived of victory by a last-minute goal.
• Many people are deprived of basic health care.
• The poor puppy was deprived of attention.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember, “depraved” has an “a” for ‘acting badly’,” while “deprived” has an “i” for ‘in need’.”

Summary

Use “depraved” when talking about something or someone very bad or evil. Use “deprived” when someone is lacking something important. While they may look similar, they describe different situations and people.