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
Radha Vatsal
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
When a young family member takes over the business, ethics go out the window as corpses are defiled, organs are sold, gold teeth are pulled, and people are maybe even murdered.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 May 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
This is in contrast to most traditional Hindu narratives, in which the husband rejects a wife who has been ‘defiled’ by another man’s attentions.
—Radha Vatsal
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
When a young family member takes over the business, ethics go out the window as corpses are defiled, organs are sold, gold teeth are pulled, and people are maybe even murdered.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
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Or consider something more adventurous, like looking for the ghost of John Wesley Powell deep in the belly of the canyon at Phantom Ranch.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t your average hike; expect to climb, wade, swim, and scramble your way through powerful streams and natural waterfalls, all while surrounded by towering canyon walls.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was reared in an environment polluted with drugs, gangs and violence.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
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In 2021 alone, the world produced more than 390 million tons of plastic annually, most of which continues to pollute the environment.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In August 2024, the Hales Corners Library Board voted unanimously to keep the books in the library's circulation and concluded Lewis-Lane and library staff did not violate library policies.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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But Comey's attorneys raised separate concerns that by using those materials at all, the government may have violated Comey's rights -- not just by reviewing potentially privileged information, but also by revisiting evidence obtained by warrants that would now be considered stale.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Further down the gorge of TikTok depravity, there are things like TCC, or the True Crime Community, an online subculture that’s been tied to actual school shootings.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
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As sublime as countertop donuts and as nourishing as a rack of girlie magazines, Clerks is a terrific movie gorge.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What about him specifically bothers you especially in terms of poisoning the youth?—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
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There’s often an arch detachment where the singer tries to pretend as though they haven’t actually been poisoned by being online themselves.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
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And at Wallow Hallow Woods, tucked across the ravines and slopes unscathed by fire, beech and maple trees still grow.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
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Gullies and ravines meant to bring water back into the system have been cleared before the storm to help prevent excess flooding, but rain continues to pour over the island.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Minimalist 11-foot-tall Styline windows frame picturesque views sweeping from the valley to the Vegas skyline and mountains beyond.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
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Temperatures could end up 15 degrees below average for much of the Plains, Midwest and portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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