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
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Recent Examples of desecration
In both films, the effect is of a diminution, a depersonalization—not to say, a desecration of the experience of horror that the documentary element embodies.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Brothers Keith and Terrence Nicks were found guilty by separate juries of desecration of human remains, removal of human remains and removal of more than 10 gravestones and markers.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Later that day, her 25-year-old son, Khadir Jones, was arrested and charged with desecration of human remains, My Central Jersey reported.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for desecration
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Brothers Keith and Terrence Nicks were found guilty by separate juries of desecration of human remains, removal of human remains and removal of more than 10 gravestones and markers.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Later that day, her 25-year-old son, Khadir Jones, was arrested and charged with desecration of human remains, My Central Jersey reported.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for desecration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecration
Noun
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The California Fair Political Practices Commission said 34 of the violations were for failing to report on time that Newsom and his staff directed outreach from companies and foundations that wanted to help after the Los Angeles wildfires to the California Fire Foundation.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Stanley’s statement came amidst a major lawsuit by the NAACP against Grok’s parent company, xAI, for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
This was a weak case for blasphemy.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
4 May 2026
Noun
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But by then, religious and political leaders from around the world condemned the image, some calling it a sacrilege.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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That might sound like sacrilege, because the NFL is beyond criticism for many sports fans, but the draft is the ideal example of what the league has become and the importance of gambling to modern audiences.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The polarizing organization trudged through a corruption trial and attempted to file for bankruptcy in the past decade.—
Stephen Gutowski,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
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But there is a growing protest movement against the project, which is on public land and many Albanians view it as government corruption.—
Greg Dixon,
NPR,
16 June 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
-
In about seven minutes, with pushing, shoving, and cursing, the agents cleared a path for the van.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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People would literally be in the drive-thru cursing at me.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 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
-
Former Chair Jerome Powell for months was hit with insults when the Fed either didn't lower rates, or didn't lower them enough.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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Turns out, this is a term of endearment, not an insult.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desecration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecration. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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