desecrate

verb
UK: /ˈdesɪkreɪt/
US: /ˈdesɪkreɪt/

  1. To damage or show disrespect to something holy.

    1. Don't desecrate the temple with bad behavior.
    2. Vandals desecrate the cemetery by spray-painting on the tombstones.

  2. To treat a place or thing with disrespect.

    1. Do not desecrate our flag like that, it is very disrespectful.
    2. Protesters desecrate the monument as a means of showing discontent with the past.

Synonyms

dishonor violate contaminate defile profane
desecrate adjective

  1. Having been treated with disrespect or violence, particularly a sacred place.

    1. The desecrated church stood as a stark reminder of the war.
    2. The desecrated artifacts were recovered and placed in a museum.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "desecrate" in English means: To damage or show disrespect to something holy., To treat a place or thing with disrespect..

The phonetic transcription of "desecrate" is /ˈdesɪkreɪt/ in British English and /ˈdesɪkreɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "desecrate": dishonor, violate, contaminate, defile, profane.

Example usage of "desecrate": "Don't desecrate the temple with bad behavior.". More examples on the page.