desecration

noun

ˌde-si-ˈkrā-shən How to pronounce desecration (audio)
Definition of desecrationnext
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

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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 Gerlach is facing nearly 500 charges — including burglary, abuse of a corpse and desecration of monuments — tied to a disturbing investigation at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, the outlet reported. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Against desecration of our flag bill 4. — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for desecration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecration
  1. violation
  2. blasphemy
  3. sacrilege
  4. corruption
  5. profanation
  6. cursing
  7. defilement
  8. insult
Noun
  • On June 27, 2026, at Trinity Pride Fest in Fort Worth, Texas, street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham were subjected to multiple violations of their First Amendment rights while attempting to preach on public property.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • However, Pregen said city inspectors later signed an affidavit of compliance certifying Martinez had corrected the violations roughly two months ago.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • This was a weak case for blasphemy.
    — Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
  • The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy.
    — Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 May 2026
Definition of blasphemy
Noun
  • That’s sacrilege on par with an Ohioan disowning football or a Texan recoiling at the smell of brisket, a Kentuckian thumbing his nose at college basketball.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 July 2026
  • Sure, Texans are very hospitable, but playing anything other than country music over the speakers is normally considered sacrilege in that establishment.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of sacrilege
Noun
  • They are accused of encouraging dissent against the regime and were convicted of broad charges of corruption, CNN’s Isobel Yeung reports.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Each saw human nature as susceptible to corruption by base impulses and self-interest.
    — Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of corruption
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
Definition of profanation
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
  • People would literally be in the drive-thru cursing at me.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Definition of cursing
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
Definition of defilement
Noun
  • But for Wildmon and Buchanan, in-your-face avant-garde art was an insult to the average person, certainly the average American Christian.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Musk and Altman have repeatedly traded blows in recent years, mocking each other’s businesses and lobbing personal insults.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of insult

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Cite this Entry

“Desecration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecration. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on desecration

Nglish: Translation of desecration for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about desecration

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