as in ravines
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pollutes
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violates
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiles
George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiles
Noun
-
She was found hours later, barely alive and with a fractured skull, having been brutally raped and left for dead in one of the park’s ravines.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Rock Creek Loop traverses approximately seven miles of ravines, creeks, subtropical forest, and small footbridges.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The debris ultimately enters storm drains and the adjacent river, which pollutes our shoreline and environment.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms.—
Frank Morris,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Alderson, president of the school’s Young Democrats club, said the governor’s endorsement violates the requirement that governments not favor a particular religion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Two federal lawsuits have been filed in Florida challenging the requirement, arguing that requiring documentary proof of citizenship and marking that status on identification violates constitutional protections under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some 4,800 units were erected along the hills and canyons of Kearny Mesa in less than a year.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trails in the area can also take visitors down into the canyons, through downtown Laguna Beach, or even into neighboring towns.—
Acacia Gabriel,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One of the most popular hikes—the Vikos Gorge—journeys through one of the deepest gorges, winding along quiet villages and monasteries.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Bolaven Plateau is a place where remnants of ancient volcanic activity, such as lava cliffs and extinct volcanic craters, coexist with lush natural landscapes that feature breathtaking waterfalls, deep gorges, and dramatic riverscapes.—
Jasmine Ting,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When the set was ready, fans heard a story (narrated by Karol in Spanish, and projected onto the screens in English) about a girl who had to break from social expectations to find her voice, and who used that strength to create light, water, fire, and valleys.—
Vanessa Diaz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The low snowfall in the valleys around the Great Salt Lake are symptoms of the lake's chronically low water levels, Abbott said.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiles. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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