as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to violate
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of defile
Danika Worthington, The Know, 19 June 2020
The 27-year-old Woodbridge man was arrested and charged with abduction with intent to defile and burglary.
—Ria Manglapus and Lisa M. Bolton, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2019
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
Naresh Bhatt is expected Tuesday morning in court, where he also was charged this week with defiling a body, Prince William County online court records show; the charge is connected to evidence showing Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s body was dismembered, police say.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for defile
Noun
Between Evergreen and Conifer Maxwell Creek slides north through a trailside defile, trembles through boulders in watery segments, and slips over black granite blocks in shimmery sheets at Maxwell Falls.
—Danika Worthington, The Know, 19 June 2020
The 27-year-old Woodbridge man was arrested and charged with abduction with intent to defile and burglary.
—Ria Manglapus and Lisa M. Bolton, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2019
Verb
The 37-year-old former Fairfax County police recruit has since been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and physically defiling a dead body.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
Naresh Bhatt is expected Tuesday morning in court, where he also was charged this week with defiling a body, Prince William County online court records show; the charge is connected to evidence showing Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s body was dismembered, police say.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for defile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defile
Noun
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Several viewpoints offer vertigo-inducing views into the canyon and the river far below.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Critics also point to the way the stunning property is used, with the ocean not coming into play enough and the large canyon only really being used on one hole.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In addition to damaging vegetation, off-road driving can pollute water sources, threaten sensitive cultural and historical sites, endanger wildlife, and disrupt and compact the soil.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 Feb. 2025
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The areas create tiny ecosystems, but even these have been polluted by human garbage and waste.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Social-media companies that violate the law could face penalties up to $50,000 per violation.—
Dara Kam,
Orlando Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2025
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Revisiting cases against crypto firms — especially those which violated the SEC's rules but were not alleged to have defrauded investors — has been broadly anticipated.—
Hannah Lang,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The film portrays the story of two professional operatives, played by Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, working on opposite sides of a gorge.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
18 Feb. 2025
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Image ‘The Gorge’ Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy star as two special agents stationed on either side of a dangerous gorge who start to bridge the gap in this action-romance directed by Scott Derrickson.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Bolsonaro, the former far-right leader, is accused of plotting a coup to stay in power, inciting violence and hatching a plan to poison the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2025
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There’s enough lawbreaking to keep Lou and Henry busy trying to work out who might have poisoned an insufferable tech bro or kidnapped a talentless aspiring actress.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Greeks, led by King Antiochus IV, had sought to suppress Jewish religious practices, outlawed the observance of Judaism, and desecrated the holy Temple in Jerusalem.—
Gail Swedroe,
Austin American-Statesman,
19 Dec. 2024
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In the past year, for example, there have been reports of the Israeli military desecrating cemeteries in Gaza, as well as corpses left in the streets for stray dogs to scavenge.—
Tyler McBrien,
The Dial,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Gorge is monitored by two snipers on annual rotations, each stationed on opposite sides of the ravine.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2025
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These structures dot a ravine that functioned as a natural route between the nearby coast and other inland settlements, archaeologists said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In a video from February 2017, Bishop shows off the compound, pointing out fruit trees and a cluster of tents pitched on a knoll overlooking a green valley.—
David Peisner,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
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The lithium in the brine beneath the brilliant white Atacama salt flat, which stretches out across the valley floor, has become a global resource.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defile. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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