desecrate
verb
des·e·crate
ˈde-si-ˌkrāt 
desecrated; desecrating
2
: to treat disrespectfully, irreverently, or outrageously
… the kind of shore development … that has desecrated so many waterfronts …—
John Fischer
John Fischer
Examples of desecrate in a Sentence
The vandals were accused of desecrating graves.
vandals desecrated the cemetery last night by covering the tombstones with graffiti
Recent Examples on the Web
San Francisco Art Institute Considered the oldest art school west of the Mississippi River, the art institute is rumored to have been built on top of a graveyard, desecrating bodies in a manner that provoked the spirits.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
And many other mounds were destroyed by amateur archeologists in the last century who desecrated the burial mounds and stole artifacts and human remains.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2024
Eldest daughter Eda, de facto head of the household, seeks to salvage the compact by desecrating it.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024
The lawsuit filed by Garcia and Martin asserted that the construction and operation of the temporary dump has in fact damaged or desecrated such sites by exposing them to toxic material, in violation of Martin’s spiritual practices.
—Claire Rush and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desecrate 
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Shawna Chen, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
And many other mounds were destroyed by amateur archeologists in the last century who desecrated the burial mounds and stole artifacts and human remains.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2024
Eldest daughter Eda, de facto head of the household, seeks to salvage the compact by desecrating it.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024
The lawsuit filed by Garcia and Martin asserted that the construction and operation of the temporary dump has in fact damaged or desecrated such sites by exposing them to toxic material, in violation of Martin’s spiritual practices.
—Claire Rush and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desecrate
Dictionary Entries Near desecrate
Cite this Entry
“Desecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desecrate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desecrate
verb
des·e·crate
ˈdes-i-ˌkrāt
desecrated; desecrating
: to treat a sacred place or sacred object shamefully or with great disrespect
desecration
noun
ˌdes-i-ˈkrā-shən
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