as in violates
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
vandals desecrated the cemetery last night by covering the tombstones with graffiti
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of desecrates
Nothing beats cuteness except watching violence be enacted upon the cuteness; like an aural Happy Tree Friends, Skulls tosses pom-poms of fuzz into the sky then desecrates them.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
In the world of Monster, a person who takes lives and desecrates corpses might someday be capable of redemption.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
In the world of Monster, a person who takes lives and desecrates corpses might someday be capable of redemption.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecrates
violates
Verb
-
The complaint requested that the judge find the administration’s policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments and bar it from being implemented.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The attack on the oil depots could be construed as chemical warfare, which violates international law, because the aggressors likely knew the hazards the civilians who live in Tehran would face, Cleetus said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desecrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecrates. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
