desecrate

verb

des·​e·​crate ˈde-si-ˌkrāt How to pronounce desecrate (audio)
desecrated; desecrating

transitive verb

1
: to violate the sanctity of : profane
desecrate a shrine
a cemetery desecrated by vandals
2
: to treat disrespectfully, irreverently, or outrageously
… the kind of shore development … that has desecrated so many waterfronts …John Fischer
desecrater noun
or desecrator

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And yet a joint biography is the only kind that feels appropriate; posthumously disentangling one brother from the other seems tantamount to desecrating a corpse, for Jacob and Wilhelm were ardently inseparable. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 The third film sees David Howard Thornton return as the diabolical Art the Clown, who desecrates bodies left and right during the Christmas season. Michaela Zee, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024 The pathogen violates and desecrates bodies, and its victims return the favor by violating and desecrating any uninfected man, woman, or child in their path. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for desecrate 

Word History

Etymology

de- + -secrate (as in consecrate)

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desecrate was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near desecrate

Cite this Entry

“Desecrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desecrate. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

desecrate

verb
des·​e·​crate ˈdes-i-ˌkrāt How to pronounce desecrate (audio)
desecrated; desecrating
: to treat a sacred place or sacred object shamefully or with great disrespect
desecrater noun
or desecrator
desecration
ˌdes-i-ˈkrā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on desecrate

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