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
Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
Almost 200 species of birds have been seen in high-walled Ramsey Canyon, a lush defile in the Huachuca Mountains south of Sierra Vista that's managed by the Nature Conservancy.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2022
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
William adamantly reminds his father that Jane was trying to save her sister from being defiled by a man who had paid to take her maidenhead.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Noun
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
Almost 200 species of birds have been seen in high-walled Ramsey Canyon, a lush defile in the Huachuca Mountains south of Sierra Vista that's managed by the Nature Conservancy.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2022
Verb
Last Blood is a straightforward revenge story about a broken man who vows to kill those who defiled and murdered his surrogate niece.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
William adamantly reminds his father that Jane was trying to save her sister from being defiled by a man who had paid to take her maidenhead.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
-
One of its most scenic routes cuts through a dramatic river canyon.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2025
-
Unlike that other world-famous attraction, this majestic canyon system inside the Daniel Boone National Forest is just a two-hour drive from Louisville.—
Amanda Hancock,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Verb
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If contaminated floodwater is swallowed, or pollutes drinking water, this can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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For decades, biologists have studied how cities affect wildlife by altering food supplies, fragmenting habitats and polluting the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
That one also violated the rules of golf, as the heel of a putter to the toe must not exceed seven inches.—
Brooks Peck,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Police can issue citations to self-driving vehicles' registered owners under a variety of circumstances, including if the car violates a traffic law resulting in a collision.—
Sasha Hupka,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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However, dogs that gorge on cicadas will find their exoskeletons difficult to digest, resulting in an upset stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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The gorge is an unusual place for northern Michigan.—
Carl T. Johnson,
Outdoor Life,
2 July 2025
Verb
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The health secretary said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are poisoning Americans and driving the obesity epidemic.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 July 2025
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After a week of deliberation, the jury found Erin Patterson lured her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, to lunch at her home and poisoned them with individual servings of Beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Anyone who desecrates these sacred places will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Now 23, Aponte pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge as part of a plea deal that saw prosecutors drop additional counts against her, including endangering, hindering, and disturbing or desecrating human remains, court records show.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
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In a ravine near the home, officers found the bodies of two adults and a teen, officials said.—
Paloma Chavez
July 11,
Sacbee.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.—
Jenna Sundel
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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These colorful aircrafts take passengers up more than 1,000 feet, offering stunning views of the neighboring valleys and the Wasatch Mountains surrounding downtown Park City below.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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