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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 May 2025
An international manhunt ensued for Magnotta, who was also accused of defiling Lin's corpse.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 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
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
An international manhunt ensued for Magnotta, who was also accused of defiling Lin's corpse.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
-
Its Mii amo spa offers treatments inspired by its surroundings and the canyon's vortex energy.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Flash flooding will be particular concern in burn scars, slot canyons and urban areas, according to the weather service.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aside from its smell, manure also contributes to dust and particulate matter that pollute the air.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Single-use water bottles could soon charge your devices instead of polluting landfills.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The president of the European Commission highlighted that in just the last two weeks, Russian drones and warplanes have violated the airspace of six European nations, scrambling jets, grounding commercial flights and posing a direct threat to EU citizens.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Lawsuits filed in recent days claim the federal government is overstepping its authority and violating constitutional protections.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is truly at its most spectacular in autumn, when the leaves start to change color and the gorge prepares itself for winter.—
Acacia Gabriel,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Apart from the gorges and cliffs, the area features beautiful waterfalls and rock shelters.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Antonio distracts him by accusing him in the town square of sending Justina off to El Alcazar and poisoning his son.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
12 Oct. 2025
-
One of the jurors said deliberations were poisoned by a belief among some jurors that a member of the panel had been paid off by Weinstein or his lawyers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Every year in the early fall, along the riverbanks and ravines of the Southeast coast, pawpaws begin to show up in the understory.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Of course, Tom finds him first and inanely yells his name across the ravine.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Search operations, including drones, launched Sunday after hikers reported being trapped in Laohugou, a valley in Menyuan county.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Once October and November hit, the cypress trees that line both sides of the river light up in shades or orange and red, striking a sharp contrast against the turquoise water and the green in the rest of the valley.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share