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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defilements
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 -
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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It was ranked in the top 1% of counties in the nation for cancer risk from stationary industrial air pollutants in a 2018 EPA report.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Water – and any pollutants in it – can eventually travel through the aquifer and threaten future drinking supply.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That included adding a warrant requirement, restrictions on search queries, and enhanced penalties for privacy violations.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Mountain Mike’s Pizza location failed a reinspection on Wednesday, April 15 for repeat major violations.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Devotees love how the aluminum walls and constant but surprisingly not-too-loud ventilation keep the air inside fresh, as does a charcoal filter designed to absorb airborne impurities that can creep into bottles through their corks or caps.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
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Facial Cleansing Brushes A gentle facial cleansing brush can remove makeup and impurities more effectively than hands alone.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Defilements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilements. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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