desecration
Americannoun
-
the act of treating something sacred or solemn in a sacrilegious or disrespectful way.
Many locals opposed the use of their former church building as a courthouse, feeling that conducting civil matters there would be a desecration of a holy place.
-
the act of ruining or violating something revered or greatly valued.
Greedy corporations are contributing to the demise of civilization and the desecration of the ecosystem.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of desecration
Explanation
Desecration is a type of behavior that disrespects the sacredness or holiness of something. Words and actions that are offensive to a religion could be considered acts of desecration. Swearing in church is a type of desecration. Destroying a tombstone is a type of desecration. Depending on the religion, taking God's name in vain could be considered desecration. This word means something close to blasphemy or sacrilege. Sometimes, desecration is used in non-religious contexts, when an idea people care about is treated disrespectfully.
Vocabulary lists containing desecration
The Bluest Eye
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Texas v. Johnson (1989)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Critics say that rules on foreign national flags were primarily aimed at preventing the desecration of foreign flags from becoming diplomatic issues, and there were similar concerns for Japan's standard.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
What Shannon sees as a rescue mission, lifetime bowlers see as a desecration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
So going back nearly 60 years, the late Mr. Flint has been left to quietly suffer the indignities of desecration and abandonment, but for temporary intervention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2026
But Roberts’ opinion is a severe distortion of Jackson’s legacy—and, indeed, it is no overstatement to say that it is a desecration of Jackson’s memory and his heroic service as Nuremberg prosecutor.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2025
“It’s a desecration to compare yourself to Rhett, Bull. There’s no comparison.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
