Thesaurus

defile

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

noun

Save Word

Synonyms of defile

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 for defile

canyon
(also cañon),
col,
couloir,
flume,
gap,
gill
[British],
gorge,
gulch,
gulf,
kloof
[South African],
linn
[chiefly Scottish],
notch,
pass,
ravine,
saddle

Words Related to defile

abyss,
chasm,
cirque,
cleft,
crevasse,
crevice,
cwm
[chiefly British],
fissure

combe
(also coombe or coomb)
[British],
dale,
dell,
glen,
hollow,
shut-in,
vale,
valley

arroyo,
barranca
(also barranco),
coulee,
draw,
gully
(also gulley),
gutter,
nullah,
trench,
trough,
wadi,
wash
[West]

defile

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms of defile (Entry 2 of 2)

1 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots

Synonyms for defile

Words Related to defile

infect

adulterate,
doctor

dilute,
water down

Near Antonyms for defile

filter

Antonyms for defile

2 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 for defile

Words Related to defile

Near Antonyms for defile

honor,
respect

Frequently Asked Questions About defile

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