desecrate

verb des·e·crate \ ˈde-si-ˌkrāt \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: desecrate in a Sentence

Definition of desecrate

desecrated; desecrating

transitive verb

1 : to violate the sanctity of : profane

desecrate a shrine

a cemetery desecrated by vandals

2 : to treat disrespectfully, irreverently, or outrageously

… the kind of shore development … that has desecrated so many waterfronts …
—John Fischer

—

desecrater

or desecrator play \-ˌkrā-tər\ noun

See desecrate defined for English-language learners

See desecrate defined for kids

Examples of desecrate in a Sentence

The vandals were accused of desecrating graves.
vandals desecrated the cemetery last night by covering the tombstones with graffiti

Recent Examples of desecrate from the Web

Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on Kilauea volcano, and the plant itself is thought to desecrate her name.

— stephen sorace, Fox News, "Geothermal plant in Hawaii volcano’s crosshairs believed by some to be on sacred ground," 23 May 2018
Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on Kilauea volcano, and the plant itself is thought to desecrate her name.

— Time, "Workers Race to Plug Hawaii Energy Plant as Lava Oozes Nearby," 23 May 2018
Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on Kilauea volcano, and the plant itself is thought to desecrate her name.

— stephen sorace, Fox News, "Geothermal plant in Hawaii volcano’s crosshairs believed by some to be on sacred ground," 23 May 2018
Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on Kilauea volcano, and the plant itself is thought to desecrate her name.

— Time, "Workers Race to Plug Hawaii Energy Plant as Lava Oozes Nearby," 23 May 2018
Right or wrong, many of these patriotic fans believe that kneeling during the anthem is desecrating that moment and disrespecting our military.

— mike bianchi, OrlandoSentinel.com, "With new national anthem policy, NFL players should learn from LeBron: You don't have to kneel down to speak up," 23 May 2018
Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on Kilauea volcano, and the plant itself is thought to desecrate her name.

— jae c. hong and sophia yan, chicagotribune.com, "Workers plugging energy wells at geothermal plant as lava from Hawaii volcano flows nearby," 22 May 2018
Hudson County prosecutors say 37-year-old Travis Plummer, of Richmond, is charged with desecrating the human remains of 23-month old Te'Myah Layauna Plummer.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Father charged after remains found in suitcase ID'd as missing toddler Te'Myah Plummer," 24 Apr. 2018
The team that discovered Djehutynakht’s desecrated chamber more than a century ago was led by archaeologists George Reisner and Hanford Lyman Story.

— New York Times, "The F.B.I. and the Mystery of the Mummy’s Head," 2 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desecrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of desecrate

de- + -secrate (as in consecrate)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1675

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

desecrate Synonyms

DESECRATE Defined for English Language Learners

desecrate

verb

Definition of desecrate for English Language Learners

: to damage (a holy place or object) : to treat (a holy place or object) with disrespect

DESECRATE Defined for Kids

desecrate

verb des·e·crate \ ˈde-si-ˌkrāt \

Definition of desecrate for Students

desecrated; desecrating

: to treat a sacred place or sacred object shamefully or with great disrespect

Learn More about desecrate

See words that rhyme with desecrate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for desecrate Spanish Central: Translation of desecrate Nglish: Translation of desecrate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of desecrate for Arabic speakers

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desecrate

Definition of desecrate

desecrater

Examples of desecrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of desecrate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of desecrate

desecrate Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

DESECRATE Defined for English Language Learners

desecrate

Definition of desecrate for English Language Learners

DESECRATE Defined for Kids

desecrate

Definition of desecrate for Students

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