A synonym for turpitude would be depravity. 

Examples of moral turpitude that could get a female teacher fired, and she had to be single.  Reasons for dismissal on groups of moral turpitude include: 1) revealing ankles, wrists, or neck in public,  2) being seen on the street after 6:00  p.m., except when going to church,  3) being seen alone with a gentleman,  4) must resign if she becomes engaged (and of course if she became pregnant). 

In the past, moral turpitude was put in employment contracts to provide employers grounds for firing gay employees.

As the phrase goes, only in the United States (and until 1976 in Canada) is moral turpitude a legal concept that refers to "an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community". Beginning in the 19th century moral turpitude appeared in United States immigration law. In other words, mayhem is a violation of moral turpitude, but mailing an obscene letter is not.