as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to violate
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defile
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 July 2024
Amy Baker Harrison was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury on Monday for the first-degree murder of Jacqueline Lard, as well as abduction with the intent to defile, aggravated malicious wounding and breaking and entering with the intent to commit murder, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 May 2025
The sacred plant, long defiled, heralded, as in the time of the Inca and all the ancient civilizations of the Andes, as a gift of the gods.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Noun
One defiles realism, and the other refuses to let it out of its grip.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 July 2024
Amy Baker Harrison was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury on Monday for the first-degree murder of Jacqueline Lard, as well as abduction with the intent to defile, aggravated malicious wounding and breaking and entering with the intent to commit murder, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
An international manhunt ensued for Magnotta, who was also accused of defiling Lin's corpse.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 May 2025
The sacred plant, long defiled, heralded, as in the time of the Inca and all the ancient civilizations of the Andes, as a gift of the gods.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
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From September to November, the colors of the leaves make a very pretty contrast to the high red rock canyon walls.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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At 8,000 feet above sea level, the North Rim's broad plateaus that drop into the canyon are thickly forested with pine trees.—
Ryan Heinsius,
NPR,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The people affected by environmental violations are not just the nearby community, Duggan said, but the workers at polluting facilities as well.—
Taylor Kate Brown,
ProPublica,
17 Sep. 2025
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Rivian also faces opposition from some residents who say the plant is an inappropriate neighbor to farms and will pollute the groundwater.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just days ago, Russian drones violated Polish airspace, drawing a reaction from NATO.—
Oleksandra Matviichuk,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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That means public institutions that fire workers for comments in their personal capacity may be violating their constitutional rights, experts told IndyStar.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On Day 9, Vengrinovich spotted a village across a gorge.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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Just remember to layer up because the river gorge usually feels cooler than town.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hidden resentments could be poisoning your work-life balance.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
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That same day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally poisoning Angela.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
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One of the most popular hiking trails in Big Sur has reopened after a huge redwood tree smashed through a 70-foot bridge over a big ravine during a winter storm two years ago, blocking public access.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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The North course, par 71, 6,945 yards, challenges the most accomplished golfers with its ravines, wind and tricky greens, while the popular and more sedate and sheltered par-70, 6,580-yard South Course, with four ocean-side holes, invites and tests golfers of every level.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
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The fossil was embedded inside rocks that date to between 115 million and 108 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous period, when the area was covered by a lush river valley.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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