DEFILE Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

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

defile 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈfī(-ə)l

Definition of defile

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

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defile

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈfī(-ə)l

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

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

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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

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

Noun

In the right of the picture, a platoon of soldiers, heavily armed and preceded by a pair of gun carriages, tramp through a defile. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025 Navarette Romero, a Honduran national, was found with some of the victim's belongings, the chief said, and he was charged with abduction with intent to defile and rape. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

Verb

Among the false claims Energy Transfer alleged Greenpeace had spread was that the energy company defiled Native American cultural boundaries. — Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 Militia members had ransacked and defiled the house. — Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile

Noun

Many who rely on copper-wire landlines live in remote rural areas, but some also live in the hills and canyons of major metro areas like Los Angeles, where cell and internet service is patchy and the risk of natural disasters is high.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
There's a canyon between building AI and running it, and most organizations are standing on the wrong side of it wondering why the view hasn't changed.

— Todd Bernson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of canyon

Verb

We’re paralyzed by whether a carbon-belching fossil fuel company’s right to pollute should outweigh the rest of the country’s right to clean air and a stable climate.

— Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Clara Benson, who is one of the founders of the No Big Bend Wall coalition, says bright lights in the area designed to illuminate the border could pollute the skies in an area renowned for having some of the best views of the stars.

— Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of pollute

Verb

The deal could close as soon as July 22, though several states, including Oregon and California, are investigating whether the $111 billion transaction violates their antitrust laws.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 July 2026
In an 80-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court found that Carliz De La Cruz Hernández can move forward with her claim that the recording’s use violated her right to protect her identity from commercial exploitation.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026

Definition of violate

Verb

Not knowing she’d been poisoned and that it was related to Russian espionage, Rowley decided to run a few errands before joining her there.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Michael seemed to be saying that by admitting her dishonesty, Ethel would have ruined their childhood and poisoned any prospect of a future relationship with her.

— Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people.

— Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 8 July 2026
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.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026

Definition of desecrate

Noun

When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of ravine

Noun

When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
Tucked into the southern end of the teeming, alluvial Willamette River valley, the region’s natural abundance began attracting farmers in the mid-nineteenth century.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Definition of valley

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“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of defile

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