as in violation
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things
the communicants were aghast at the desecration of the altar
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 desecration
Adams was also sentenced to two five-year sentences for unlawful removal of a dead body, and two seven-year sentences for unlawful desecration of a human corpse.
—
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Jury reaches verdict In April 2007, a Middlesex County jury convicted McGuire of first-degree murder, desecration of a corpse, perjury, and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Leonard was also charged in Linn County with interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from Kansas City, Kansas, police.
—Kendrick Calfee
updated January 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
The government called for a nationwide march on Monday in support of the regime and in opposition to what authorities described as recent acts of desecration and insults against Islamic symbols, including the Quran, by protesters.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desecration
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Jury reaches verdict In April 2007, a Middlesex County jury convicted McGuire of first-degree murder, desecration of a corpse, perjury, and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Leonard was also charged in Linn County with interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from Kansas City, Kansas, police.
—Kendrick Calfee
updated January 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
The government called for a nationwide march on Monday in support of the regime and in opposition to what authorities described as recent acts of desecration and insults against Islamic symbols, including the Quran, by protesters.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desecration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecration
Noun
-
Iran disagrees strongly, and called Israel's ongoing attacks in Lebanon a violation of the ongoing two-week ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Rodgers echoed Kelly’s trepidations by arguing that the city should take more explicit actions under code that already exists to protect against ordinance violations.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For creatives, its use was treated like blasphemy.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Interreligious tension exists, with arbitrary detentions of Christians and arrests under the nation’s blasphemy laws.—
Mathew Schmalz,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Religious and political leaders from around the world condemned the image, some calling it a sacrilege.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
-
At many Jewish institutions, rejecting Zionism is indeed regarded as a form of sacrilege.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The causes of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.—
Victor J. Blue,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
-
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; ’Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.—
John Edgar Wideman,
The New Yorker,
8 July 2021
Noun
-
The event, organized by the Shelby County Republican Party, turned out a small crowd and was greeted by some supportive honks from motorists, but also some cursing at Trump from people in at least two cars passing by.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
And as Siniaková showed emotion of her own in the joy of vanquishing such a favorite, Andreeva started her walk out of the stadium that would end in cursing and acrimony.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In this way, Lapid keeps the emotional aspect of Y’s self-defilement at the forefront of the drama.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are comic insults and lines of great beauty.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The president often hurled insults at Bezos and his ownership of The Washington Post, as well as his tax record.—
Annie Palmer,Justin Papp,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desecration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecration. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
