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.
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Recent Examples of defile
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
As a state legislator, Lincoln stood against slave catchers backed by the federal government who defiled our state’s laws and terrorized our most vulnerable.
—
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Their beautiful sanctuary has been defiled, and Emily is fired.
—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
After occupying forces defiled the temple, a small army led by Judah the Maccabee liberated the sanctuary.
—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Verb
Militia members had ransacked and defiled the house.
—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
As a state legislator, Lincoln stood against slave catchers backed by the federal government who defiled our state’s laws and terrorized our most vulnerable.
—
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Their beautiful sanctuary has been defiled, and Emily is fired.
—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
After occupying forces defiled the temple, a small army led by Judah the Maccabee liberated the sanctuary.
—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
-
At Garland Ranch, trails climb from the Carmel River through oak woodland, chaparral and shaded canyons with the sort of views that drew people to California in the first place.
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The Colorado River Headwaters Byway is an 80-mile National Scenic Byway that winds through mountain towns, passing alpine lakes, hot springs, and canyon overlooks.
Verb
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The solution is to support federal and state legislation that encourages lower-cost, less-polluting renewable energy to speed up the transition away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
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Plastics degrade into microplastics, which in humans have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues, and which are polluting ecosystems from coral reefs to Antarctica.
Verb
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Trump said that Iran violated the ceasefire agreement and that US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, as well as coastal radar sites.
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But both have accused the other of violating their end of the agreement.
Noun
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From here the route winds south past the town of Telluride, with its legendary skiing and film, jazz and bluegrass festivals, and out to Mesa Verde National Park, where Puebloan people carved gorgeous cliff dwellings in the buttes and gorges.
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Letchworth State Park, recently named Best State Park in USA TODAY’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, offers 66 miles of hiking trails, a 600-foot gorge and three popular waterfalls.
Verb
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The special bond between Supergirl and her scruffy animal sidekick becomes a key plot point in Kara’s new solo movie, where Krypto is poisoned by space outlaw Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
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Kara Zor-El (Alcock) goes on a planet-hopping mission to save her beloved Krypto – with young and vengeful girl Ruthye (Eve Ridley) in tow – after he’s poisoned by the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
Verb
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One is about civic commonality, the other about authoritarian cynicism; one is about a city pulling together around a common pleasure, the other about desecrating the decorum of democracy.
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During that time, our home, and the last of our things in it, could continue to be desecrated.
Noun
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
Noun
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Along with widespread highs in the 90s, the system will bring high humidity to the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, Duffus said, with more than two dozen states affected at its peak.
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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