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 city has also issued orders to deal with graffiti, weeds, disrepair and other violations.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The state ethics commission accused the Georgia Republican Assembly and its political action committee of failing to disclose more than $180,000 of contributions and other violations.
    David Wickert, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Look for products that have been tested for contaminants like lead, arsenic, and mercury.
    Stacey Colino, Time, 22 July 2026
  • Filters with higher values can catch smaller contaminants like smoke, bacteria and viruses.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Now, yet again, state and local governments are launching an effort to help clean Lake Jesup, this time by removing some of the pollutants on a narrow creek before reaching the lake, which sits about 14 miles northeast of Orlando.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • For children with allergies or asthma, remove the carpet from their bedroom to prevent pollutants and allergens that can build up in the carpet.
    Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • The researchers note that developing robust pre-treatment systems will be vital, as everyday impurities can quickly poison and deactivate the sensitive metal catalyst.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
  • For Hygiene and Disease Prevention Showering helps remove sweat, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities from the surface of your skin and hair, which can cause infections and irritations.
    Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 15 July 2026
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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“Defilements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilements. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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