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
One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh’s wife, are desecrated.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
Authorities confiscated, desecrated, and lost sacred and ceremonial items, inflicting spiritual wounds that were less visible but no less damaging than the physical ones.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2016
And on that day, the president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation's Capitol, to desecrate our nation's Capitol.
—Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024
The operation of the site also threatens sacred Hawaiian shrines and altars and desecrates ancient Hawaiian burial sites, according to a lawsuit filed by two people who don’t want the debris in Olowalu.
—Claire Rush and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desecrate 
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
Authorities confiscated, desecrated, and lost sacred and ceremonial items, inflicting spiritual wounds that were less visible but no less damaging than the physical ones.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2016
And on that day, the president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation's Capitol, to desecrate our nation's Capitol.
—Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024
The operation of the site also threatens sacred Hawaiian shrines and altars and desecrates ancient Hawaiian burial sites, according to a lawsuit filed by two people who don’t want the debris in Olowalu.
—Claire Rush and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desecrate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desecrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near desecrate
Cite this Entry
“Desecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desecrate. Accessed 2 Oct. 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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