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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Typical diurnal winds prevailed with westerly/up canyon, gusting near 20 MPH, observed in the afternoon.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The helicopter then lands inside the canyon, where participants start their epic journey on the river to the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, past glaciers, waterfalls, and basalt columns.—
Mia Taylor,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What To Know The annual $1 billion allocation comes from California's cap-and-invest program, which collects fees from polluting industries.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Farmers overapplying them in their fields can cause nitrogen-laden runoff that pollutes water and the air.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Polish airspace was violated by at least 19 Russian drones overnight, the country's prime minister said, in a torrent of activity that triggered a response from the NATO country's air force, which scrambled and downed several of the drones.—
Will Gretsky,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
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In a 21-page ruling, Talwani found that ICE holding an 18-year-old migrant arrested on charges of shoplifting without a bond hearing violated his due process rights.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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After visitors make their way down the 137 steps from the parking lot and visitor center—a journey that is decidedly less pleasant on the way back up—they’ll get their first glimpse of Natural Bridge, a towering structure set within a rocky gorge.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In pre-trial evidence released last month, Erin's ex-husband Simon also accused Erin of attempting to fatally poison him on multiple occasions, per the BBC.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The patients allegedly poisoned were between the ages of 4 and 89, according to Le Monde.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
8 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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The victim's truck was later found abandoned in a ravine.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
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The valley was carved by water flowing into the large Jezero Crater, which also held a lake billions of years ago.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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