DESECRATION Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

desecration

noun

ˌde-si-ˈkrā-shən

Definition of desecration

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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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 With the ruin of Troy also came the desecration of Zeus’ law, which proved dangerous to the returning Ithacans. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026 Makoto, who has deployed the hinomaru in works commenting on Japan’s society and history, took issue with the idea that desecration of the flag is unpatriotic. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 July 2026 The Tesla’s desecration follows a vandalism spree in Queens that saw religious centers, homes and vehicles defiled with swastikas and antisemitic slogans last month. — Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026 However, the Supreme Court in several cases has struck down any improper use or desecration of the flag on the grounds of free speech, according to the Library of Congress’ most frequently asked questions about flag law. — Darleene Powells, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for desecration

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecration

Noun

The order warned any construction or demolition before the NPS issues final authorization would be a violation of the court.

— Kristin Wright, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
Former Edison football coach Dave White remembers suspending his team’s best player before a trip to Hawaii for a team rule violation.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

That might have sounded like blasphemy just half a decade ago, but college football is always evolving, and Swinney is a man stuck in time.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Politicians and preachers denounced them for blasphemy, perversion, and their loud support for civil rights.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of blasphemy

Noun

While this might seem like capitalist sacrilege, Gearin says there’s historical precedent for Indigenous peoples using plant medicine as a tool to navigate the practical demands of the world.

— Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
To refer to the Manhattanite rock quintet as third best in any context feels like music sacrilege.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sacrilege

Noun

The Justice Department, for instance, decimated its elite Public Integrity Section in early 2025 while the FBI disbanded a white-collar fraud and public corruption squad based out of its Washington field office.

— PATRICK WHITTLE, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
But his support among Palestinians has withered during years of corruption and the sometimes violent advance of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

Paxton had argued that the law-school clinic was not a classroom but a workplace, and that Fisher was punished not for expressing political views but because her cursing and volume had disrupted clinic business.

— Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
The cursing is definitely a big part of being that age, and especially misplaced cursing is funny — kids who don’t exactly know how to curse correctly.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of cursing

Noun

This is on top of Perez Hilton and plenty of other sites (Gawker included) that would just flat-out insult people, draw nasty things on their pictures, and just generally malign them.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Reclaiming the work of women selling fish, and the word that was an insult but is now a beautiful brand, is a wonderful turn of phrase and time, to us.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of insult

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desecrating

desecration

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“Desecration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecration. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of desecration

noun

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