defilements

plural of defilement
1
as in corruptions
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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2
as in contaminants
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defilements
Noun
  • The federal agency has been working to reduce dietary exposure to contaminants for children to as close to zero as possible.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The microbes generate new iron-rich minerals that absorb contaminants, which can then be safely collected or reused, reducing both costs and environmental impact.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Always use proper ventilation while cooking to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide and air pollutants.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Microplastics have become a hot topic in recent years, particularly with the proliferation of these microscopic pollutants in the earth’s water supplies.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Questions over gambling machines reached state Supreme Court Local police can enforce violations in certain circumstances, including at grocery stores and gas stations.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The New Brunswick house also possessed a history of building code violations and officials have since declared the building to be an unsafe structure, according to NJ Advance Media.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Feedstock impurities pose another challenge.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Start with a gentle, refreshing cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin.
    Essence, Essence, 8 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Defilements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilements. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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