defilement

noun

Definition of defilementnext
1
as in desecration
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things for two centuries the Christian monasteries in England suffered defilements at the hands of Viking invaders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contamination
something that is or that makes impure souvenir shops, observation towers, and other tacky defilements on Civil War battlefields that should be considered hallowed ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 defilement In this way, Lapid keeps the emotional aspect of Y’s self-defilement at the forefront of the drama. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defilement
  1. desecration
  2. contamination
  3. violation
  4. contaminant
  5. blasphemy
  6. pollutant
  7. corruption
  8. sacrilege
Noun
  • When Debbie, Susan, and Thom come over for a double-date pizza night, only Bret is concerned about the spate of recent home invasions, the missing pets, and the desecration of the griffin mascot.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • He was convicted of offenses including desecration of national symbols, contempt and public ​disorder, and spent five years in the Guanajay prison near Havana.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 19 July 2026
Definition of desecration
Noun
  • Some Outshine Fruit Bars distributed nationwide have been recalled amid concerns over potential contamination with glass, according to parent company Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream.
    — Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • There is no risk of drinking water contamination or disruption of other utilities for Carmel residents at this time, Finkam added.
    — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of contamination
Noun
  • Miles says similar texts were sent to others about the recall, and that the texts constitute quid pro quo, a major ethics violation.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The party also viewed Yabloko’s stance on Ukraine as unlawful and tantamount to calling for the violation of Russia’s territorial integrity.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Temporary low water pressure was monitored during the repair, with samples collected from seven locations in the affected area showing no evidence of contaminants.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, some products may contain contaminants or fail to provide the amount of protein listed, Balady says.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of contaminant
Noun
  • If the state decides to officially charge him with blasphemy, Pragiwaksono could go to trial.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Astorino, the textbook author, went so far as to decry the showcase as something close to blasphemy.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of blasphemy
Noun
  • This summer has seen record-smashing heatwaves across Europe, huge wildfires from Spain and France to Canada, which have released deadly pollutants into the air, and yet more extreme heat from Africa to Asia.
    — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • These fun masks foam up on the skin to remove dirt, oil, debris, and other pollutants that can clog your pores.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pollutant
Noun
  • Times when this line has fundamentally blurred, such as with Nixon and Watergate, have been some of the most notorious instances of overreach and corruption in our history.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Collins has been behind in numerous polls, and has been fighting a House ethics investigation and accusations of corruption and associations with white supremacists throughout his campaign.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • Filming a talk show on a moving train brings its own set of audio and visual problems, but making this show any other way would be sacrilege.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • That’s sacrilege on par with an Ohioan disowning football or a Texan recoiling at the smell of brisket, a Kentuckian thumbing his nose at college basketball.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 July 2026
Definition of sacrilege

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Cite this Entry

“Defilement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilement. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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