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

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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

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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
  • 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
  • During Tuesday's news conference, Environment Georgia Research & Policy Center State Director Jennette Gayer said contamination is widespread.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Possible risks include contamination, allergic reactions and tumor growth, according to the FDA.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of contamination
Noun
  • This was a violation at the opening inspection and was to be corrected prior to opening.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The law firm said that a license plate violation will not add points on your DMV record.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Smelters reject or penalize this dangerous contaminant, forcing miners to destroy it using energy-intensive, high-emission furnaces.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Toxicology testing also revealed that Jackie had environmental contaminants and traces of a rodenticide called brodifacoum in her liver.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of contaminant
Noun
  • Or a plot to divert attention from Murphy’s blasphemy of her famously lucky number 13?
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • That might have sounded like blasphemy just half a decade ago, but college football is always evolving, and Swinney is a man stuck in time.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of blasphemy
Noun
  • Without a mask, without fear of needing lung implants, without having to worry about inhaling a soupçon of strychnine or similar industrial pollutants.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Gas and coal power plants also emit air pollutants and the greenhouse gases causing climate change, leading to more health costs.
    — Justine Calma, The Verge, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pollutant
Noun
  • Democrats have targeted Paxton, who is benefiting from millions in outside spending, over corruption claims and his impeachment by the Texas Legislature, though he was later acquitted.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even leftist lawmakers support to some of those ideas in the wake of a corruption scandal that ensnared the court.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 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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defiled
defilement
defilements
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Cite this Entry

“Defilement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilement. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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