as in contaminated
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1
as in polluted
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violated
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiled
Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
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
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
The work of love, and the question of what happens when love is absent or defiled, became a central preoccupation.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 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
After recapturing Jerusalem’s holy temple, which had been defiled by the occupiers, the Maccabees searched for pure oil to light the menorah.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
And earlier this month, Russia prompted outrage by installing an exhibit that some commentators said defiled the Katyn Memorial, the site of the mass execution of Polish POWs by the Soviets in 1940.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
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
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
The work of love, and the question of what happens when love is absent or defiled, became a central preoccupation.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 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
After recapturing Jerusalem’s holy temple, which had been defiled by the occupiers, the Maccabees searched for pure oil to light the menorah.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiled
Adjective
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These risks are linked to prolonged contact with contaminated water, compounded by limited access to sanitation and healthcare.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Another method involves covering contaminated areas with clean soil, clay or concrete.—
Eduardo B. Farfán,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That is exactly what this film cleverly does — pinpoints the insidious nature of far-right movements and the creeping rhetoric that has polluted our society.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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Water sources are often polluted through run-off from lawns that contain herbicides.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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The parents sued the school board and district officials in 2021, alleging that their rights to make decisions about the care and upbringing of their children were violated.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While Liang seeks to distance the company from the tainted elements, Supermicro’s longer-term fate may hinge on whether Nvidia stays close or decides to keep its distance.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
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The case has it all — backroom deals, bribes, tainted legislation, dark money contributions — even the suicide of a prominent official at the center of the scandal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Who cares about the fact that her friend cheated when her child was poisoned by her husband and her father?—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
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Weinstein’s lawyers have argued that his New York conviction last year was poisoned by bad blood among jurors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Javien Wright, the man whose grave was desecrated, was, with a gun by his side, shot to death outside a house in the 1500 block of East Mulkey Street in February 2020.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
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More synagogues in Canada in the past 28 months have been desecrated, burned, shot at, or threatened with bombings than in any other country.—
Jesse Brown,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Wise’s wistful songwriting is retained, but completely missing is his intentionally impure palette.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2026
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This is because they are often seen as ritually impure.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Islamic finance may also avoid sectors and products considered haram, or unclean; for example, a sharia-compliant ETF may avoid banks that offer traditional loans or e-commerce platforms that sell pork.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The facility had an unclean can opener.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiled. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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