desecrate

[des-i-kreyt]

verb (used with object)

desecrated, desecrating 

1. to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.

2. to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.

3. to treat with sacrilege; profane.

   Synonyms: outrage, pollute, dishonor, violate, defile

desecrate

/ ˈdɛsɪˌkreɪt /

verb

1. to violate or outrage the sacred character of (an object or place) by destructive, blasphemous, or sacrilegious action

2. to remove the consecration from (a person, object, building, etc); deconsecrate

Other Word Forms

• desecrater noun
• desecrator noun
• desecration noun
• undesecrated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of desecrate¹

First recorded in 1665–75; de- + -secrate, modeled on consecrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of desecrate¹

C17: from _de- + _consecrate

Example Sentences

“Actually, I was wondering if you had some clothes I could borrow that don’t smell completely like a desecrated pig,” Gibby said.

Read more on Literature

Any of Gein’s contemporaries who are still alive would have been too young to fully grasp the enormity of the way he desecrated the memory and bodies of their community’s loved ones.

Read more on Salon

"We can turn the tables every time, and we can return every land desecrated by these traitors to the nation's fold," he said.

Read more on BBC

But that doesn’t mean we should lie to ourselves about the FBI’s mission and history, or pretend that Patel has desecrated a noble, principled and independent institution.

Read more on Salon

“Excessively entertainment-oriented portrayals desecrate the nation’s suffering and disrespect the people who made sacrifices,” read a recent commentary published in the state-run Economic Daily newspaper.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• defile 
• dishonor 
• pervert 
• pillage 
• profane 
• ravage