All words

turpitude

Meaning

A state of extreme wickedness or moral baseness, often manifested through corrupt or immoral behavior.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

The teacher could not believe the turpitude of the person who cheated many students out of their hard-earned money. Such inherent baseness shocked everyone in the room and made people feel wary of trusting others. It was not just a mistake but truly an act of depravity.

The general wasn't just a bad leader; he was a monster. His orders to attack the civilian hospital were not a strategic error but an act of pure turpitude. This inherent baseness, this choice to commit such a cruel act, horrified even his most loyal soldiers.

The judge reviewed the evidence with disgust. The defendant had stolen from elderly victims who trusted him, then lied about it under oath. Such turpitude deserved the maximum sentence. This wasn't just a mistake or moment of weakness. It was deliberate evil, corruption from the inside out.

Max was shocked by the turpitude of his cat, Whiskers, who stole his breakfast every morning without shame. Such inherent baseness had never been seen in a pet, especially when Whiskers even tried to frame the dog for this very base act by moving the toast crumbs!

The squirrel didn't just steal my bagel; he meticulously ate only the cream cheese off the top and then threw the bread at my head. The sheer turpitude of this act was breathtaking. He is no longer a cute rodent, but my sworn enemy.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

The man's actions were filled with such turpitude that even his closest friends were shocked. He lied, cheated, and stole without remorse, displaying a level of depravity that was truly unsettling.

The abandoned house stood as a monument to the turpitude of its former inhabitants. Shadows danced ominously in the dimly lit rooms, the air heavy with the stench of decay. Graffiti covered the walls, each word a testament to the depravity that had taken root within those walls. As I stepped cautiously through the debris, a sense of unease washed over me. I could feel the weight of the sins that had been committed here, the base acts that had stained the very foundation of the house. And as I fled from that place, I knew I would never forget the turpitude that lurked within its walls.

The stench of turpitude clung to him like a malodorous shroud. His crimes, a grotesque tapestry of depravity, were etched upon his countenance. Every glance held a glimpse of his vile soul, a cesspool of unspeakable deeds that darkened his every step.

In the kingdom of Eldoria, the dark wizard Malice was known for his turpitude. His twisted desires led him to commit unspeakable acts of depravity, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The villagers whispered in fear of his base acts, knowing that his power was fueled by his inherent baseness. Despite his malevolent nature, a brave group of heroes rose up to challenge Malice and put an end to his reign of terror. As they faced the wizard in battle, they knew that victory would not only save their kingdom but also cleanse it of his wicked turpitude.

Turpitude is a word used to describe a state of inherent baseness or depravity in a person's character or actions. It refers to behavior that is morally corrupt or wicked. For example, if someone commits a heinous crime, their actions can be described as turpitude. This word is often used to convey a sense of disgust or disapproval towards someone's behavior. Turpitude is not just about making a mistake or engaging in a minor wrongdoing, but rather it signifies a deep-seated moral flaw or a truly despicable act. In essence, turpitude is a strong term used to condemn actions that are truly reprehensible.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

His turpitude was obvious when he lied and took credit for someone else's hard work. The sense of inherent baseness in his actions made others uneasy, as if they were witnessing a kind of quiet but deep depravity they could not ignore.

His willingness to bankrupt his own family to fund his addiction was a new low. His sister stared at him, unable to comprehend the sheer turpitude required to steal from their elderly mother's savings account, leaving her with absolutely nothing.

The scandal revealed the senator's true character. Years of bribery, extortion, and abuse of power showed a moral turpitude that shocked even his critics. He had not made one mistake but built a career on corruption, each act more vile than the last, proving his complete lack of decency.

The mayor’s dog, notorious for acts of pure turpitude, once swapped the town’s championship trophies with old shoes, flaunting inherent baseness matched only by his daily routine of hiding meatballs under unsuspecting hats. Citizens now check their hats before council meetings, wary of canine depravity lurking nearby.

Gary’s particular brand of office turpitude was legendary. His most depraved act involved meticulously replacing every family photo on his boss’s desk with pictures of Nicolas Cage. The sheer baseness of the scheme was only matched by the boss's bewildered stare at fifty different smiling Cages.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

Despite his polished manner, the manager's turpitude surfaced when he embezzled funds from the charity. Witnesses were stunned by the inherent baseness of his actions, a depravity that contradicted his reputation and left a lingering sense of betrayal among all who trusted him.

The prosecutor lambasted the disgraced official for his moral turpitude, outlining years of bribery and fraud. His avaricious schemes demonstrated a profound depravity, ultimately bankrupting the venerable institution and betraying the public’s trust with his perfidious actions.

The prosecutor outlined each crime with methodical precision: the embezzlement, the blackmail, the systematic exploitation of vulnerable clients. She paused before concluding, allowing the jury to absorb the full scope of his turpitude. This wasn't mere criminal behavior but a fundamental corruption of character that pervaded every professional relationship he'd cultivated over two decades.

Harold’s infamous act of pilfering his neighbor’s flamingo lawn ornaments at midnight—while clad in nothing but a tutu and galoshes—was the very zenith of turpitude, a dazzling display of inherent baseness that left the neighborhood association bewildered and several plastic birds emotionally scarred.

Bartholomew, my recalcitrant pug, committed an act of unparalleled turpitude this morning. He absconded with the last breakfast sausage, a truly ignominious display of gluttony that irrevocably shattered our domestic comity and proved his inherent baseness beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Difficulty

Challenging — Rare, high-register words for serious word lovers.

Appears in

Play word games with turpitude Take the 2 minute vocabulary size test