Defile
verb
To damage or ruin something pure or clean.
They were accused of defiling the sacred site with their protests.
Often appears as...
- defile the environment
- defile someone's reputation
verb
To abuse or mistreat something sacred or highly respected.
The invaders defiled the holy temple with their presence.
Often appears as...
- defile a shrine
- defile a holy site
noun
A narrow passage or gorge.
The troops marched through the mountain defile in single file.
Often appears as...
- mountain defile
- narrow defile
verb
To damage or ruin something pure or clean.
They were accused of defiling the sacred site with their protests.
Often appears as...
- defile the environment
- defile someone's reputation
verb
To abuse or mistreat something sacred or highly respected.
The invaders defiled the holy temple with their presence.
Often appears as...
- defile a shrine
- defile a holy site
noun
A narrow passage or gorge.
The troops marched through the mountain defile in single file.
Often appears as...
- mountain defile
- narrow defile
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Moral Implications
Using 'defile' suggests a strong moral judgment about the action.
The company's illegal dumping has defiled the once pristine lake.
Pro Tip 2/3Gravity of Action
'Defile' indicates an action that seriously harms purity or cleanliness.
The graffiti artist defiled the monument with vulgar images.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Physical Only
While often physical, 'defile' can refer to intangible things like honor or air quality.
The politician's lies defiled the dignity of the office.
Pro Tip 1/3Moral Implications
Using 'defile' suggests a strong moral judgment about the action.
The company's illegal dumping has defiled the once pristine lake.
Pro Tip 2/3Gravity of Action
'Defile' indicates an action that seriously harms purity or cleanliness.
The graffiti artist defiled the monument with vulgar images.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Physical Only
While often physical, 'defile' can refer to intangible things like honor or air quality.
The politician's lies defiled the dignity of the office.
Pro Tip 1/3Moral Implications
Using 'defile' suggests a strong moral judgment about the action.
The company's illegal dumping has defiled the once pristine lake.
Pro Tip 2/3Gravity of Action
'Defile' indicates an action that seriously harms purity or cleanliness.
The graffiti artist defiled the monument with vulgar images.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Physical Only
While often physical, 'defile' can refer to intangible things like honor or air quality.
The politician's lies defiled the dignity of the office.
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Video examples
Damian Palin: Mining...
a place that doesn't have any natural resources. So I'd like you to image a mining industry in a way that one hasn't existed before; imagine a mining industry that doesn't mean defiling the Earth; imagine bacteria helping us do this by accumulating and precipitating
Video examples
An inside look at...
yelling and screaming telling everyone to get out he grabbed me by the scruff of my neck he says what have you done you've shamed the family you have dishonored and defiled the home people pray here he said you're bringing these
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
Touching the body would defile his spirit, draining his life force and leaving him forsaken by the kami. But as he listened to her cries, his sympathy soared. And so, they buried the old woman together,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 27 PIPE...
can get stuck here to death elephants do get stuck and they can absolutely die in mud they can get stuck in these defiles I don't think that this elephants in any
Video examples
Damian Palin: Mining...
a place that doesn't have any natural resources. So I'd like you to image a mining industry in a way that one hasn't existed before; imagine a mining industry that doesn't mean defiling the Earth; imagine bacteria helping us do this by accumulating and precipitating
Video examples
An inside look at...
yelling and screaming telling everyone to get out he grabbed me by the scruff of my neck he says what have you done you've shamed the family you have dishonored and defiled the home people pray here he said you're bringing these
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
Touching the body would defile his spirit, draining his life force and leaving him forsaken by the kami. But as he listened to her cries, his sympathy soared. And so, they buried the old woman together,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 27 PIPE...
can get stuck here to death elephants do get stuck and they can absolutely die in mud they can get stuck in these defiles I don't think that this elephants in any
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
Lobsang Tenzin
Tibetan Leader
I do not think any religion encourages intolerance. Intolerance is the biggest mental defilement, and every religion tries to remove this defilement. So we must understand that whenever there is intolerance, this comes from an irreligious mind. It is not created by religion, and it is not in the mind of the religious person.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
The most irresistible charm of youth is its bubbling enthusiasm. Youth sees no darkness ahead - no defile that has no outlet - it forgets that there is such a thing as failure in the world and believes that mankind has been waiting all these centuries for him to come and be the liberator of truth and energy and beauty.
Quote examples
Isoroku Yamamoto
Japanese Admiral
Even though there wasn't much damage, it's a disgrace that the skies over the imperial capital should have been defiled without a single enemy plane being shot down. It provides a regrettably graphic illustration of the saying that a bungling attack is better than the most skillful defense.
Quote examples
Cindy Sheehan
American Activist
I don't understand why, to rise to the level of being president of my country, one has to be a monster. I used to say that George Bush was defiling the Oval Office, but it's been held by a long line of monsters. We don't have to support our administrations to love our country.
Quote examples
J. G. Ballard
British Author
There are some people, who place enormous value on their home and feel that it defines them, that a stain on the carpet is a personal defilement. There are others, and I think I am one of them, who are entirely indifferent to where they live.
Quote examples
Robert South
English Clergyman
Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.
Quote examples
Henry Villard
American Journalist
The curious defiled past him, after squeezing the Presidential fingers into the room, and settled either on the sofa or chairs or remained standing for protracted observations.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.
Quote examples
William Golding
English Novelist
What a man does defiles him, not what is done by others.
Quote examples
William Blake
English Poet
The soul of sweet delight, can never be defiled.
Quote examples
Lobsang Tenzin
Tibetan Leader
I do not think any religion encourages intolerance. Intolerance is the biggest mental defilement, and every religion tries to remove this defilement. So we must understand that whenever there is intolerance, this comes from an irreligious mind. It is not created by religion, and it is not in the mind of the religious person.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
The most irresistible charm of youth is its bubbling enthusiasm. Youth sees no darkness ahead - no defile that has no outlet - it forgets that there is such a thing as failure in the world and believes that mankind has been waiting all these centuries for him to come and be the liberator of truth and energy and beauty.
Quote examples
Isoroku Yamamoto
Japanese Admiral
Even though there wasn't much damage, it's a disgrace that the skies over the imperial capital should have been defiled without a single enemy plane being shot down. It provides a regrettably graphic illustration of the saying that a bungling attack is better than the most skillful defense.
Quote examples
Cindy Sheehan
American Activist
I don't understand why, to rise to the level of being president of my country, one has to be a monster. I used to say that George Bush was defiling the Oval Office, but it's been held by a long line of monsters. We don't have to support our administrations to love our country.
Quote examples
J. G. Ballard
British Author
There are some people, who place enormous value on their home and feel that it defines them, that a stain on the carpet is a personal defilement. There are others, and I think I am one of them, who are entirely indifferent to where they live.
Quote examples
Robert South
English Clergyman
Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.
Quote examples
Henry Villard
American Journalist
The curious defiled past him, after squeezing the Presidential fingers into the room, and settled either on the sofa or chairs or remained standing for protracted observations.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.
Quote examples
William Golding
English Novelist
What a man does defiles him, not what is done by others.
Quote examples
William Blake
English Poet
The soul of sweet delight, can never be defiled.
Example 1 of 10
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