1
as in corruptions
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things
for two centuries the Christian monasteries in England suffered defilements at the hands of Viking invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contaminants
something that is or that makes impure
souvenir shops, observation towers, and other tacky defilements on Civil War battlefields that should be considered hallowed ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defilements
Noun
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Higher water levels could bring radioactive contaminants further into the Pacific Ocean.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
31 Mar. 2026 -
Hazards such as lead and other heavy metals, contaminants like PFAS and forever chemicals may be found in water throughout Indiana.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Scientists said the shark study findings highlight how pollutants commonly associated with human activity, including medications and recreational drugs, are making their way into ocean food webs.—
Jessica Botelho,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants.—
Bay City News Service,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Will the agency adopt the model of personal injury attorneys and serial plaintiffs who have abused the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act to shake down unsuspecting business owners for purely technical violations of the law?—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Authorities said the suspect was transported to the Central Booking Intake Facility and charged with first- and second-degree murder, assault and handgun violations.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Seawater is forced at high pressure through a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while blocking most salts and other impurities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Yellowcake is a concentrated form of uranium after impurities are removed from the raw ore.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Defilements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defilements. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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