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Showing results for defilement. Search instead for defilements.
Synonyms

defilement

American  
[dih-fahyl-muhnt] / dɪˈfaɪl mənt /

noun

  1. the act of making something foul, dirty, or unclean.

    Humankind's destruction and defilement of the natural environment is seriously endangering the continuation of life on this planet.

  2. the violation of something considered sacred, or the act of making something ceremonially impure; desecration.

    I want to express our profound disgust and contempt for the recent defilement of the mosque by graffiti.

  3. the act of violating a person’s chastity.

    The Lagos state government has approved the use of a toll-free emergency line to report cases of rape, defilement, child abuse, and other sexual assaults.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of defilement

defile 1 ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )


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.

See Examples For:

It holds, appropriately, kid-size glass sculptures that evoke fairy-tale innocence and real-world defilement.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2021

Without fanfare or warning, P&D no longer looks like a bizarre defilement, breach or disruption of anything at all.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2019

Hazzauna's shame was her deepest secret and yet she felt the defilement left her oddly transparent.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2012

Hazzauna’s shame was her deepest secret and yet she felt the defilement left her oddly transparent.

From New York Times ● Feb. 11, 2012

It reminded me that even the dead possessed HaShem’s sanctity and divine beauty and that no manner of defilement could take that away.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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