deprive en 30 secondes
- Deprive means taking away a necessity or right from someone.
- It always uses the preposition 'of' (deprive someone of something).
- Commonly used for sleep, food, rights, and basic human needs.
- It implies a serious loss rather than a minor inconvenience.
The verb deprive is a powerful word used to describe the act of taking something away from someone or preventing them from possessing something they need or deserve. At its core, it implies a sense of loss or a lack of essential resources. While it can be used in simple everyday contexts, it often carries a weight of seriousness, particularly when discussing human rights, health, or fundamental needs. To deprive someone is not just to take a toy away from a child; it often refers to the systematic or forced removal of necessities like sleep, food, or liberty.
- Core Concept
- The removal of a necessity or a right.
- Transitive Nature
- It requires an object (the person) and usually a prepositional phrase (of something).
- Emotional Weight
- Often implies unfairness or hardship.
The harsh winter conditions deprive the local wildlife of their natural food sources, leading to a struggle for survival.
In a legal or social context, the word is frequently used to describe the stripping of rights. For example, a prisoner might be deprived of their freedom as a consequence of their actions. In a medical context, we often hear about 'sleep deprivation,' which is the state of being deprived of the rest the body requires to function correctly. The word suggests that the thing being taken away is not just a luxury, but something vital for well-being or proper operation.
You shouldn't deprive yourself of a good night's sleep just to finish a project; your health is more important.
Historically, the word comes from Latin roots meaning 'to thoroughly take away.' This 'thoroughness' is key; it's not a temporary borrowing but a significant removal. When a community is deprived of clean water, it isn't just a minor inconvenience; it is a crisis. The word highlights the gap between what is needed and what is currently available due to external actions or circumstances.
- Synonym: Strip
- To take away an honor, title, or property.
- Synonym: Divest
- To rid oneself of something, often used in business or law.
The new law will deprive many citizens of their right to vote in the upcoming local elections.
The thick clouds deprive the valley of sunlight for most of the winter months.
Finally, it is important to distinguish between 'deprive' and 'lack'. While 'lack' simply means not having something, 'deprive' implies an action or a condition that causes that lack. If you lack money, you just don't have it. If you are deprived of money, someone or something has taken it or prevented you from earning it. This distinction is vital for accurate communication in English.
Parents should never deprive their children of the affection and support they need to grow up healthy.
- Antonym: Provide
- To give or make available something that is needed.
- Antonym: Supply
- To provide a stock or amount of something for use.
Using the word deprive correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure and the weight of its meaning. The most common structure is the transitive form: subject + deprive + object + of + noun. This 'of' is non-negotiable in standard English. For instance, 'The war deprived the children of their education.' Here, the war is the cause, the children are the ones affected, and education is the thing taken away. Without the 'of', the sentence would be grammatically incomplete.
In many cases, you will encounter the passive form: be + deprived + of. This is particularly common in news reports and academic writing. For example, 'Many refugees are deprived of basic medical care.' This shifts the focus onto the victims and the state of lacking something essential. It is a very effective way to highlight social injustices or health issues without necessarily naming a specific perpetrator immediately.
Another important usage is the reflexive form: deprive oneself of. This is used when someone chooses to go without something, often for a specific reason like a diet, religious practice, or work goal. 'She deprived herself of sweets for a month to improve her health.' While this is a voluntary action, the word 'deprive' still suggests that the thing being given up is something the person would normally want or enjoy, emphasizing the difficulty of the sacrifice.
The word can also be used in more abstract ways. You can deprive a plant of light, a engine of fuel, or a conversation of meaning. In each case, the core idea remains: the removal of something necessary for the subject to function or thrive. In professional settings, you might hear about 'depriving a competitor of market share,' which means taking away their customers or influence through strategic actions.
When writing, consider the tone. Because deprive is a strong word, using it for trivial matters can come across as hyperbolic. If you say, 'My brother deprived me of the TV remote,' it sounds much more serious than 'My brother took the remote.' Use this to your advantage: if you want to sound dramatic or emphasize a great loss, 'deprive' is the perfect choice. If you want to be neutral, 'take away' or 'remove' might be better.
You will encounter the word deprive in a variety of high-stakes environments. One of the most common is in legal and human rights discussions. Lawyers and activists often speak about people being deprived of their civil liberties, their right to a fair trial, or their property. In these contexts, the word carries a legal weight, suggesting that a fundamental rule or law has been broken by taking something away from an individual or group.
In the field of medicine and psychology, 'deprivation' is a standard term. You will frequently hear about 'sleep deprivation,' 'sensory deprivation,' or 'emotional deprivation.' Doctors use these terms to describe conditions where a patient is not getting enough of a vital stimulus or rest. For example, a study might investigate how being deprived of social interaction affects mental health in the elderly. Here, the word is clinical and descriptive of a deficiency.
News and political commentary are also full of this word. Journalists use it to describe the effects of poverty, war, or government policy. You might read a headline like, 'Sanctions deprive the nation of essential medicines.' This usage highlights the consequences of political decisions on everyday people. It is a word that evokes empathy and points to a problem that needs to be solved, making it a favorite for editorial writing and investigative reporting.
In academic and scientific research, 'deprive' is used to describe experimental conditions. A biologist might deprive a group of plants of nitrogen to see how it affects their growth. In this setting, the word is used precisely to describe the control of variables. It is not about cruelty, but about understanding the necessity of certain elements by observing what happens when they are removed.
Finally, you might hear it in literature and drama. Authors use 'deprive' to emphasize the suffering of their characters. A character might be deprived of love, hope, or their inheritance. It adds a layer of tragedy to the narrative, suggesting that the character has been robbed of something that was rightfully theirs or essential to their happiness. In all these contexts, the word serves to highlight a significant and often painful absence.
One of the most frequent errors learners make with deprive is omitting the preposition 'of'. Many students, influenced by verbs like 'take' or 'remove,' try to use it directly with the object being taken. For example, saying 'They deprived his rights' is incorrect. The correct form is always 'They deprived him of his rights.' This structure is essential for the word to function correctly in an English sentence. Always pair the person with the 'of' phrase.
Another common mistake is confusing 'deprive' with 'derive'. While they sound somewhat similar, their meanings are nearly opposite. 'Deprive' means to take away, whereas 'derive' means to obtain or receive something from a source (e.g., 'He derives great pleasure from reading'). Confusing these two can lead to sentences that mean the exact opposite of what you intended. A good way to remember is that 'Deprive' starts with 'De-', which often relates to removal or reversal (like 'decrease' or 'decline').
Learners also sometimes use 'deprive' when 'prevent' or 'stop' would be more appropriate. While 'deprive' implies taking away something someone already has or needs, 'prevent' is about stopping an action from happening. For instance, 'The rain deprived us from going out' is awkward. It should be 'The rain prevented us from going out.' Use 'deprive' for things (rights, food, sleep) and 'prevent' for actions.
Overusing the word for trivial situations can also be a stylistic mistake. While it's not grammatically wrong to say 'The broken oven deprived me of my dinner,' it sounds very formal and perhaps a bit too dramatic for a casual conversation. In everyday speech, 'I couldn't have dinner because the oven broke' is more natural. Save 'deprive' for situations where the loss is significant, or when you intentionally want to sound formal or emphatic.
Lastly, be careful with the passive voice. While 'He was deprived of sleep' is common and correct, learners sometimes forget the 'of' even in the passive form, saying 'He was deprived sleep.' Always keep the 'of' attached to the thing being missed. Also, ensure the subject of the passive sentence is the person or thing that is lacking, not the thing that was taken away. You wouldn't say 'Sleep was deprived of him'; you say 'He was deprived of sleep.'
Understanding words similar to deprive helps you choose the exact nuance you need for your writing. A close synonym is strip. While 'deprive' is general, 'strip' often implies a more public or humiliating removal of something, like a rank, title, or clothing. For example, 'The athlete was stripped of his gold medal.' This suggests not just a loss, but a formal and often punitive action. It is more visceral and aggressive than 'deprive'.
Another related word is divest. This is a more formal, often legal or financial term. It means to rid oneself of something, like an investment or a responsibility. 'The company was forced to divest itself of its overseas assets.' While 'deprive' usually happens *to* someone, 'divest' is often something a person or entity does to themselves, though sometimes under pressure. It lacks the emotional weight of 'deprive' and is more about the technicality of ownership.
Rob is a more informal and forceful synonym. While 'deprive' can be a slow or systemic process, 'rob' implies a sudden, often illegal act of taking. However, we use it metaphorically in ways similar to 'deprive', such as 'The injury robbed her of a chance to compete.' In this sense, 'rob' emphasizes the unfairness and the suddenness of the loss, making it more emotional than the relatively clinical 'deprive'.
Withhold is slightly different because it means to refuse to give something in the first place, rather than taking it away. If a boss withholds a bonus, they never gave it. If they deprive you of a bonus, it might imply they took back something you expected or were entitled to. 'Withhold' is about keeping something back, while 'deprive' is about the state of the person who doesn't have it. Both, however, result in a lack for the recipient.
Finally, consider bereave. This is a very specific type of deprivation, used almost exclusively for the loss of a loved one through death. 'The bereaved family' is one that has been deprived of a member. It is the most emotionally heavy word in this group and should only be used in the context of death. Using 'deprive' in such a case would feel too cold and detached, showing how important it is to choose the right synonym for the situation.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Prepositional verbs
Passive voice construction
Reflexive pronouns
Transitive vs Intransitive verbs
Gerunds as subjects
Exemples par niveau
Do not deprive the dog of water.
Jangan biarkan anjing kekurangan air.
Deprive + object + of + noun.
They deprive the children of toys.
Mereka mengambil mainan dari anak-anak.
Simple present tense.
The cold weather deprives us of heat.
Cuaca dingin membuat kita tidak mendapat panas.
Subject is an abstract concept.
He was deprived of his lunch.
Dia tidak mendapatkan makan siangnya.
Passive voice: was + deprived of.
Plants die if you deprive them of light.
Tanaman mati jika Anda tidak memberinya cahaya.
Conditional sentence.
Don't deprive yourself of sleep.
Jangan biarkan diri Anda kurang tidur.
Reflexive pronoun 'yourself'.
The war deprived many of their homes.
Perang membuat banyak orang kehilangan rumah.
'Many' acts as the object.
Poor people are often deprived of health care.
Orang miskin sering tidak mendapat layanan kesehatan.
Passive voice with 'often'.
The new law might deprive people of their rights.
Hukum baru itu mungkin merampas hak-hak orang.
Modal verb 'might'.
You shouldn't deprive your body of vitamins.
Anda tidak seharusnya membiarkan tubuh kekurangan vitamin.
Negative advice with 'shouldn't'.
The noise deprived me of a good night's rest.
Kebisingan itu membuat saya tidak bisa istirahat malam dengan baik.
Causative structure.
Is it fair to deprive a student of a chance to learn?
Apakah adil merampas kesempatan belajar seorang siswa?
Interrogative sentence.
The drought deprived the farmers of their crops.
Kekeringan membuat para petani kehilangan hasil panen mereka.
Past tense.
He felt deprived of affection as a child.
Dia merasa kurang kasih sayang saat masih kecil.
Adjective-like use of 'deprived'.
The prison deprives inmates of their freedom.
Penjara merampas kebebasan para narapidana.
Present tense describing a function.
They were deprived of information about the accident.
Mereka tidak diberi informasi tentang kecelakaan itu.
Passive voice.
Working too much can deprive you of time with your family.
Bekerja terlalu banyak dapat merampas waktu Anda bersama keluarga.
Gerund as subject.
The city was deprived of electricity for three days.
Kota itu tidak mendapat aliran listrik selama tiga hari.
Passive voice with duration.
She decided to deprive herself of chocolate for a month.
Dia memutuskan untuk tidak makan cokelat selama sebulan.
Reflexive use with 'decided to'.
The economic crisis deprived many families of their savings.
Krisis ekonomi merampas tabungan banyak keluarga.
Subject is an economic term.
We shouldn't deprive the younger generation of a healthy planet.
Kita tidak boleh merampas planet yang sehat dari generasi muda.
Negative obligation.
The athlete was deprived of his medal after the test.
Atlet itu dicopot medalinya setelah tes tersebut.
Passive voice in a sports context.
Does the internet deprive us of real social interaction?
Apakah internet merampas interaksi sosial nyata kita?
Question about a social trend.
The judge ruled that the man had been deprived of a fair trial.
Hakim memutuskan bahwa pria itu telah dirampas haknya atas peradilan yang adil.
Past perfect passive in a subordinate clause.
The regime was accused of depriving citizens of basic human rights.
Rezim itu dituduh merampas hak asasi manusia dasar warga negara.
Accused of + -ing form.
Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues.
Kurang tidur yang berkepanjangan dapat menyebabkan masalah kesehatan serius.
Noun form 'deprivation'.
The new tax policy deprives small businesses of their competitive edge.
Kebijakan pajak baru merampas keunggulan kompetitif bisnis kecil.
Abstract object 'competitive edge'.
He was deprived of his inheritance due to a legal technicality.
Dia kehilangan warisannya karena teknis hukum.
Passive voice with 'due to'.
The forest fire deprived many animals of their natural habitat.
Kebakaran hutan merampas habitat alami banyak hewan.
Environmental context.
Social media can sometimes deprive us of our ability to focus.
Media sosial terkadang dapat merampas kemampuan kita untuk fokus.
Modal 'can' with 'sometimes'.
The treaty deprived the country of its most valuable resources.
Perjanjian itu merampas sumber daya paling berharga negara tersebut.
Political context.
They were systematically deprived of any opportunity to succeed.
Mereka secara sistematis dirampas setiap kesempatan untuk sukses.
Adverb 'systematically' modifying the verb.
The censorship laws effectively deprive the public of objective information.
Undang-undang sensor secara efektif merampas informasi objektif dari publik.
Adverb 'effectively' used for emphasis.
To deprive a child of a stable home is to inflict lasting psychological damage.
Merampas rumah yang stabil dari seorang anak berarti menimbulkan kerusakan psikologis yang langgeng.
Infinitive phrase as subject.
The company's actions deprived the shareholders of their rightful dividends.
Tindakan perusahaan merampas dividen yang menjadi hak para pemegang saham.
Corporate context.
The sensory deprivation tank is used to induce a state of deep relaxation.
Tangki deprivasi sensorik digunakan untuk menginduksi keadaan relaksasi yang dalam.
Compound noun 'sensory deprivation tank'.
The war-torn region was deprived of even the most rudimentary infrastructure.
Wilayah yang dilanda perang itu dirampas bahkan infrastruktur yang paling dasar sekalipun.
Passive voice with 'even the most'.
The critic argued that the adaptation deprived the story of its original soul.
Kritikus berargumen bahwa adaptasi tersebut merampas jiwa asli ceritanya.
Metaphorical usage.
He was deprived of his liberty without a shred of evidence against him.
Dia dirampas kebebasannya tanpa sedikit pun bukti yang memberatkannya.
Idiomatic 'shred of evidence'.
The austerity measures have deprived the education sector of vital funding.
Langkah-langkah penghematan telah merampas pendanaan vital dari sektor pendidikan.
Present perfect tense.
The ontological argument suggests that to deprive God of existence is a logical contradiction.
Argumen ontologis menunjukkan bahwa merampas eksistensi dari Tuhan adalah kontradiksi logis.
Philosophical context.
The scorched-earth policy was designed to deprive the invading army of any sustenance.
Kebijakan bumi hangus dirancang untuk merampas segala bentuk makanan dari tentara yang menyerang.
Military strategy context.
By focusing solely on metrics, we risk depriving the educational process of its human element.
Dengan hanya berfokus pada metrik, kita berisiko merampas elemen manusia dari proses pendidikan.
Participial phrase 'By focusing'.
The defendant claimed that the police had deprived him of his right to remain silent.
Terdakwa mengklaim bahwa polisi telah merampas haknya untuk tetap diam.
Past perfect in reported speech.
The sudden bereavement deprived her of her sense of purpose in life.
Kehilangan yang tiba-tiba merampas tujuan hidupnya.
Abstract psychological object.
The monolithic architecture deprives the neighborhood of any aesthetic variety.
Arsitektur monolitik merampas variasi estetika dari lingkungan tersebut.
Architectural criticism.
The sanctions were criticized for depriving the civilian population of life-saving medicines.
Sanksi tersebut dikritik karena merampas obat-obatan penyelamat jiwa dari penduduk sipil.
Passive voice with 'criticized for'.
To deprive a language of its speakers is to condemn a culture to extinction.
Merampas penutur dari suatu bahasa berarti menghukum suatu budaya menuju kepunahan.
Complex conditional-like structure.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Implies necessity, not just desire.
Common for diets or discipline.
Always use 'of'.
- Saying 'deprive from' instead of 'deprive of'.
- Using 'deprive' without an object (e.g., 'He deprived of food').
- Confusing 'deprive' with 'derive'.
- Using 'deprive' for actions instead of 'prevent'.
- Forgetting the 'of' in the passive voice.
Astuces
The 'Of' Rule
Never forget the 'of'. It connects the person to the thing they lost.
Deprive vs. Derive
Deprive = Take away. Derive = Take from. Don't mix them up!
Use for Impact
Use 'deprive' when you want to emphasize that a loss is unfair or serious.
Natural Phrasing
Say 'I'm sleep-deprived' instead of 'I didn't sleep' to sound more advanced.
Social Issues
Use 'deprived' to describe poor areas or people lacking opportunities.
Rights
In legal contexts, always use 'deprive of' when talking about rights.
Medical Terms
Learn 'oxygen deprivation' and 'sensory deprivation' for medical topics.
Self-Discipline
Use 'deprive oneself of' to talk about diets or giving up habits.
Passive Voice
'He was deprived of...' is very common in news reports.
Choose Wisely
Use 'strip' for titles and 'deprive' for needs.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Latin
Contexte culturel
Used in the US Constitution.
Refers to socio-economic status.
Refers to lack of stimuli.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Have you ever been deprived of sleep for a long time?"
"Do you think social media deprives us of real connections?"
"Should parents deprive children of technology as punishment?"
"What is one thing you could never deprive yourself of?"
"How does it feel to be deprived of information?"
Sujets d'écriture
Describe a time you felt deprived of something important.
Write about a society where people are deprived of their voices.
How would you feel if you were deprived of the internet for a week?
Reflect on the phrase 'sleep deprivation' and its impact on your life.
Is it ever right to deprive someone of their freedom?
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, 'deprive' is always followed by 'of'. 'Prevent' is followed by 'from'.
No, you can deprive animals, plants, or even abstract things like a 'story' of its 'soul'.
The noun form is 'deprivation', as in 'sleep deprivation'.
Usually, yes, as it implies taking away something needed. However, 'depriving oneself' can be positive in the context of discipline.
You can, but it sounds dramatic. 'You deprived me of a cookie' is a bit much for a casual setting.
'Lack' is a state of not having. 'Deprive' is an action that causes that state.
It is pronounced de-PRIVE, with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Yes, very common, especially in sociology, law, and psychology.
Yes, 'deprived' is the past tense and past participle.
Common ones include 'sleep deprivation', 'deprive of rights', and 'materially deprived'.
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Summary
The word 'deprive' highlights the forced or systematic removal of essential elements required for well-being, functioning, or legal entitlement, always following the 'deprive [someone] of [something]' structure.
- Deprive means taking away a necessity or right from someone.
- It always uses the preposition 'of' (deprive someone of something).
- Commonly used for sleep, food, rights, and basic human needs.
- It implies a serious loss rather than a minor inconvenience.
The 'Of' Rule
Never forget the 'of'. It connects the person to the thing they lost.
Deprive vs. Derive
Deprive = Take away. Derive = Take from. Don't mix them up!
Use for Impact
Use 'deprive' when you want to emphasize that a loss is unfair or serious.
Natural Phrasing
Say 'I'm sleep-deprived' instead of 'I didn't sleep' to sound more advanced.
Exemple
Do not deprive yourself of sleep.
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