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
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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
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defilement
Noun
-
Against desecration of our flag bill 4.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In both films, the effect is of a diminution, a depersonalization—not to say, a desecration of the experience of horror that the documentary element embodies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If this happens, some experts might argue that using compounding pharmacies can come with a separate set of potential risks, such as contamination, inconsistent dosing or preparation errors.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
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Environmental and health experts warn contamination in some regions already exceeds safety standards, posing long-term risks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Iran disagrees strongly, and called Israel's ongoing attacks in Lebanon a violation of the ongoing two-week ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Rodgers echoed Kelly’s trepidations by arguing that the city should take more explicit actions under code that already exists to protect against ordinance violations.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Avoid soaps that are labeled antibacterial or that contain environmental contaminants like parabens, phthalates, or triclosan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
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Many samples taken from incoming mail have contaminants on the paper or in the ink, Walsh said.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Interreligious tension exists, with arbitrary detentions of Christians and arrests under the nation’s blasphemy laws.—
Mathew Schmalz,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
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Another young man, Mashal Khan, a university student and poet, was lynched by a mob of fellow students who accused him of blasphemy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Engineers at Rice University have developed a dual-bacterial system that converts chemical signals directly into electrical output, creating a new type of bioelectronic sensor that could detect pollutants, health markers, and antibiotics using simple electrical readouts.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
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An air purifier can also help filter out pollutants, Wargocki said.—
Kristen Fischer,
Health,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Vatican says fighting corruption in the mineral-rich country and insisting on the correct uses of political authority are expected to be themes of Leo’s visit, which starts Wednesday with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The election reflects Peru’s deep political instability — nine presidents in ten years — amid voter anger over crime and corruption, though the country’s economy has remained relatively resilient.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Religious and political leaders from around the world condemned the image, some calling it a sacrilege.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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At many Jewish institutions, rejecting Zionism is indeed regarded as a form of sacrilege.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defilement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilement. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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