desecrate

verb

des·​e·​crate ˈde-si-ˌkrāt 

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 noun

or desecrator

ˈde-si-ˌkrā-tər 

Synonyms

• violate

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 on the Web

In the world of Monster, a person who takes lives and desecrates corpses might someday be capable of redemption. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025

Trump’s order also directs administration officials to terminate or revoke visas if foreign nationals are found to have desecrated the flag. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025

Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2025

Punishment for burning the national flag varies, with some requiring those who desecrate a flag to pay a fine, such as Italy, while others, like South Korea, enforce multiple years of jail-time. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

de- + -secrate (as in consecrate)

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for desecrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

desecrate

verb

des·​e·​crate ˈdes-i-ˌkrāt 

desecrated; desecrating

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

desecrater noun

or desecrator

-ˌkrāt-ər 

desecration

ˌdes-i-ˈkrā-shən

noun