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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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
-
The bodies of six of nine missing people have been recovered from the site of a chemical tank implosion and rupture in Washington state, officials said Thursday, and efforts were being made to dilute contaminated water.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Health experts warn that exposure to contaminated water can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and infections.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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At the latter, four local farmers show The Athletic water courses polluted with crude oil.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
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Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party also took the discourse offline this week, dressing up as the insect to clean up India’s notoriously polluted Yamuna River in Delhi, according to news reports.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Protestant ethics, however, are not violated without the torment of guilt or the pleasure of self-destruction; never good enough, never bad enough.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Patagonia alleged Pattie Gonia violated the agreement by selling merchandise, and the complaint includes email correspondence between the parties in 2025, in which the company reminded the drag queen their agreement prohibits the commercialization of the Pattie Gonia name.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
1 June 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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The growth of extremes, if unchecked, could lead to the kind of politics that disastrously poisoned the 1930s.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Little does Linda realize that Bradley has poisoned the meal with deadly berries.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Verb
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The mission also alleges that evidence was planted and bodies were desecrated.—
Patrick Peralta,
The Conversation,
28 May 2026
-
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
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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The tooth of the table mounted can opener was unclean with old white debris.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 15,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Dan Tana’s, a red-sauce West Hollywood institution, closed April 15 to 18 due to vermin infestation, unclean surfaces, plumbing or drainage citations and improper build or maintenance of walls, floors or ceilings, according to the health department.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiled. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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