Synonyms of defile

defile 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈfī(-ə)l 

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

• canyon
• gorge
• ravine
• valley
• pass
• saddle
• gulch
• gap
• col
• crevice
• trench
• abyss
• flume
• kloof
• linn
• fissure
• notch
• gulf
• gill
• chasm
• couloir
• cleft
• gutter
• crevasse
• glen
• basin
• vale
• wash
• hollow
• dale
• cirque
• gully
• floodplain
• dell
• combe
• cwm
• kettle
• nullah
• arroyo
• trough
• wadi
• draw
• barranca
• coulee
• shut-in

defile

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈfī(-ə)l 

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

• pollute
• poison
• contaminate
• taint
• befoul
• infect
• foul
• sully
• besmirch
• soil
• dirty
• stain
• dilute
• blacken
• adulterate
• smudge
• muddy
• rot
• spoil
• corrupt
• mire
• smirch
• foul up
• water down
• grime
• begrime
• doctor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purify
• clean
• clarify
• cleanse
• purge
• clear
• distill
• decontaminate
• filter
• sterilize
• disinfect
• sanitize

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

• violate
• desecrate
• destroy
• ravage
• profane
• demolish
• ruin
• raid
• contaminate
• pollute
• insult
• taint
• blaspheme
• rob
• soil
• sully
• defame
• offend
• despoil
• swear
• devastate
• decimate
• plunder
• wreck
• curse
• affront
• befoul
• poison
• desolate
• desacralize
• pillage
• desanctify
• foul
• sack
• raze
• annihilate
• deconsecrate
• spoil
• strip
• ransack
• loot
• waste
• outrage
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bless
• dedicate
• honor
• sanctify
• consecrate
• respect
• hallow
• purify
• cleanse
• purge

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb defile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defile are contaminate, pollute, and taint. While all these words mean "to make impure or unclean," defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

When is contaminate a more appropriate choice than defile?

The meanings of contaminate and defile largely overlap; however, contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

water contaminated by industrial wastes

When is it sensible to use pollute instead of defile?

While in some cases nearly identical to defile, pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.

the polluted waters of the river

When could taint be used to replace defile?

The synonyms taint and defile are sometimes interchangeable, but taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

tainted meat

a politician's tainted reputation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of 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

After recapturing Jerusalem’s holy temple, which had been defiled by the occupiers, the Maccabees searched for pure oil to light the menorah. —Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025

Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!