DEFILEMENT Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

defilement

noun

Definition of defilement

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

Noun

The gang steals sacred objects, but their movements around them can resemble ceremony not desecration.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
These are two examples of politicians' truths among a plethora of others that are really lies, distortions, deceptions and desecrations of the citizens' trust in them.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of desecration

Noun

While a crack in a propeller may be visible, contamination inside a motor bearing can be more difficult to detect.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Internal memos among company scientists and executives obtained by The Times reveal that for at least half a century, the plastics industry has been aware of and concerned about the potential for microplastic contamination in the human body.

— Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of contamination

Noun

That was true in its yeshiva reform efforts when hesitant and understaffed local districts were charged with investigations and, even when violations were substantiated, the schools couldn’t be closed down.

— David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
But that still amounts to 79 inquiries now being double-checked for a possible violation of policy.

— Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

Rain can cause contaminants to leach into groundwater, and studies have linked exposure to cancer, kidney damage, and developmental problems in children.

— Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Therefore, the researchers' anode not only removes a toxic contaminant but also reduces the energy needed to produce hydrogen at the cathode, increasing the system's overall hydrogen-production efficiency.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of contaminant

Noun

Shock and anger greeted the Pakistani Supreme Court's decision to uphold the conviction and death sentence of a Christian man accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.

— Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Or a plot to divert attention from Murphy’s blasphemy of her famously lucky number 13?

— Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of blasphemy

Noun

And a study published September isolated the most problematic pollutants by exposing mice to different airborne particles for five hours and then examining their brains.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Oct. 2026
That benefit is amplified by the addition of 2% ectoin, a protective ingredient that defends skin against external irritants (like pollutants) and internal stressors (like hormonal changes) alike.

— Deanna Pai, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of pollutant

Noun

Room for Disagreement Kenyan critics of the AFCON infrastructure developments have argued that the projects have been an avenue for corruption and risk escalating Kenya’s $98 billion debt burden.

— Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
The students also demanded changes in the judiciary and urgent investigations in top-level corruption cases that might have been sidelined due to political pressure under Vucic.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

Advertisement To the Eagle Family, these scenes were sacrilege.

— Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
While this might seem like capitalist sacrilege, Gearin says there’s historical precedent for Indigenous peoples using plant medicine as a tool to navigate the practical demands of the world.

— Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of sacrilege

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“Defilement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilement. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of defilement

noun

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