as in pernicious
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiling
Adjective
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This safety feature is indispensable, which makes this new wave of thefts particularly pernicious.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026 -
What frightens scientists more than the sheer numbers are that the cuts are arbitrary and manifestly pernicious.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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In a highly unusual move, the US Justice Department has urged a federalcourt to throw out a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company xAI for its use of polluting gas turbines — sparking concerns the government is trying to undermine the ability of individuals or communities to sue polluters.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Perversely, this exemption may encourage companies to switch to highly-polluting diesel engines to avoid idling fines.—
Chris Hartmann,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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This is the justification for killing people, which, by the way, does not sound that different from the justifications governments offer for violating people’s human rights.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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The group sued to block the probe, alleging the agency was violating its First Amendment rights.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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The magic trick of creator Katie Dippold’s series, about a mayor named Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) who tries to bring tourism to his totally cursed island community, lies in its hard-to-describe tone.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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The history has fueled countless theories, documentaries, podcasts and social media posts that portray Lake Lanier as cursed or haunted.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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It was also used in a separate supply-chain attack poisoning dozens of Red Hat packages.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Their jail is strange and unwholesome.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Johnson County He was arrested last August on charges of abuse of office and corrupt influence.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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The kidnappings have been linked to run-ins with drug cartels and corrupt government officials, while there have also been cases involving young women who worked at the country’s many factories.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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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,
29 May 2026
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And this has lent Margot a debased sort of celebrity.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Defiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiling. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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