desecrate Hear it!

desecrate Definition

des·ecrate (des′i krāt′)

transitive verb -·crat′·ed, -·crat′·ing

to take away the sacredness of; treat as not sacred; profane

Etymology: de- (sense ) + (con)secrate

desecrate Related Forms
des′·ecrat′·er noun or des′·ecra′·tor
desecrate Synonyms

desecrate

v.

defile, commit sacrilege, dishonor, befoul; see profane.

desecrate Law Definition

v

To harm or insult a sacred thing.
desecrate Usage Examples

Object

  • grave: What kind of barbaric religion would desecrate a grave?
  • temple: He desecrated the temple by setting up an altar to Zeus, king of the Greek gods.
  • church: Inchiquin's forces slaughter the defenders as well as priests and civilians, then desecrate the church.
  • site: They were hunted down and killed as animals, their sacred sites desecrated and their beliefs derided.
  • tomb: A mob drove the Jesuits from Holyrood, sacked the Chapel Royal and desecrated the royal tombs.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Please use these; do not desecrate the Monument or surrounding area.
  • also: Private Johnson had not only desecrated the statue of their Goddess, he had also desecrated the woman who played the Goddess.
  • now: The server came by, looked at the now desecrated Fifth Floor restaurant cloths, and made a little notation on her pad.