defiling 1 of 2

adjective

as in pernicious

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defiling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of defile
1
as in polluting
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violating
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiling
  1. pernicious
  2. polluting
  3. violating
  4. cursed
  5. poisoning
  6. unwholesome
  7. corrupt
  8. debased
Adjective
  • But herein also lie some of the issues that de-normalizing alcohol consumption brings to light, including its overlap with other, equally pernicious public health crises.
    — Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026
  • Spector is clearly concerned with the pernicious consequences of technology, its ability to numb emotions and steer people into ideological cul-de-sacs.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
Definition of pernicious
Verb
  • This novel legal approach, likened to a polluting factory, argues that AI chatbots cause mental harm, provide uncertified advice, and undermine public health and safety.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • This large mass will translate into higher quantities of polluting propellant needed to loft these systems off Earth and a much larger amount of metals vaporizing in Earth's atmosphere during reentry.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of polluting
Verb
  • One of Torrez’s bills would remove the cap on penalties for violating New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Keith DiMarco, the mayor of Glassport Borough in Allegheny County, was arrested for violating a protection-from-abuse order filed by his wife and 22-year-old stepdaughter, sources tell KDKA-TV.
    — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of violating
Adjective
  • Abdurraqib’s point, though, appears to be that the curse might be a blessing in disguise, or at least that our attempts to outrun the curse might be more cursed than the curse itself.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In the press, Duleep was seen as another victim of the cursed Koh-i-Noor, instead of the British Empire.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of cursed
Verb
  • Trump is also poisoning the process at a moment when the system for casting votes in the United States really does need shoring up.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • An unknown person has been poisoning mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village since 2022, with 16 more trees targeted this July and August — a case some suspect involves a wealthy resident trying to improve their view of Lake Tahoe.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of poisoning
Adjective
  • Their jail is strange and unwholesome.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Grievous bodily harm, nonconsensual drugging, murder, yes…still, thank god there’s nothing unwholesome here, like say a man in a dress.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of unwholesome
Adjective
  • The duo and two others, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, were hit with the worst charges — felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and other related offenses.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Agostino Abbatiello, Thomas Robinson, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat are facing several felony charges, including corrupt organizations, conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Adjective
  • That wasn’t its only subject; comedy and power and misogyny and creativity and intergenerational conflict and work ethic and, especially in its last few seasons, the debased state of the entertainment industry were all richly explored through lines.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • And this has lent Margot a debased sort of celebrity.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of debased
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

“Defiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiling. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of defiling for Spanish Speakers

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