Desecrate
verb
To damage or disrespect a holy place or thing.
The vandals were accused of desecrating the church.
Often appears as...
- desecrate a church
- desecrate a grave
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To treat something important without respect, or in a way that spoils it.
She felt that putting up a shopping mall would desecrate the natural beauty of the area.
Often appears as...
- desecrate the environment
- desecrate the landscape
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To damage or disrespect a holy place or thing.
The vandals were accused of desecrating the church.
Often appears as...
- desecrate a church
- desecrate a grave
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To treat something important without respect, or in a way that spoils it.
She felt that putting up a shopping mall would desecrate the natural beauty of the area.
Often appears as...
- desecrate the environment
- desecrate the landscape
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Sacred Spaces
Use 'desecrate' for places or objects held sacred, often implying an intentional act of disrespect.
Graffiti on the ancient temple desecrated a site revered by many.
Pro Tip 2/3Religious Context
'Desecrate' is commonly used in religious situations, bringing to mind serious acts of blasphemy.
The protestors desecrated the religious icons displayed in the square.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Offense
Describing an action as 'desecration' suggests a strong, negative moral judgement.
Desecrating the war memorial sparked public outrage.
Pro Tip 1/3Sacred Spaces
Use 'desecrate' for places or objects held sacred, often implying an intentional act of disrespect.
Graffiti on the ancient temple desecrated a site revered by many.
Pro Tip 2/3Religious Context
'Desecrate' is commonly used in religious situations, bringing to mind serious acts of blasphemy.
The protestors desecrated the religious icons displayed in the square.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Offense
Describing an action as 'desecration' suggests a strong, negative moral judgement.
Desecrating the war memorial sparked public outrage.
Pro Tip 1/3Sacred Spaces
Use 'desecrate' for places or objects held sacred, often implying an intentional act of disrespect.
Graffiti on the ancient temple desecrated a site revered by many.
Pro Tip 2/3Religious Context
'Desecrate' is commonly used in religious situations, bringing to mind serious acts of blasphemy.
The protestors desecrated the religious icons displayed in the square.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Offense
Describing an action as 'desecration' suggests a strong, negative moral judgement.
Desecrating the war memorial sparked public outrage.
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Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
the spanish and the inca until the incan empire is finally conquered by the spanish conquistadors and it the story takes place after that so the inca have now been conquered their sacred temples same sacred sites have been you know desecrated their gold which was a symbol of life itself has
Video examples
Aziza Chaouni: How I...
Actually, the state of the river before entering the medina is pretty healthy. Then pollution takes its toll, mainly due to untreated sewage and chemical dumping from crafts such as tanning. At some point, I couldn't bear the desecration of the river, such an important part of my city,
Video examples
Eve Ensler: Security and...
we come from them, they are mothers, they are visionaries, they are the future. If you think that the U.N. now says that one out of three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime, we're talking about the desecration of the primary resource of the planet,
Video examples
An underwater art...
otherwise, it will be desecrated by someone who doesn't understand that value. So I want to finish up tonight by talking about sacred things. When we were naming the site in Cancun, we named it a museum for a very important and simple museums are places of preservation,
Video examples
It's a church. It's a...
one hears the haunting echoes of the damaged and missing mosaics and icons, desecrated and looted during the Latin Occupation in the Fourth Crusade. Within the floor, the tomb inscription of Enrico Dandolo, the Venetian ruler who commanded the campaign,
Video examples
The dark history of...
though the project was unfinished. None of the four figures had torsos, as intended, and rubble was left piled below. To the Lakota, the monument was a desecration. And the presidents immortalized on the rockface
Video examples
Neil MacGregor: 2600...
He'd ransacked, desecrated the temple. And the great gold vessels of the temple in Jerusalem had been taken to Babylon. Belshazzar, his son, decides to have a feast. And in order to make it even more exciting,
Video examples
Secrets of Revelation PIPE...
evangelical Christians around the world waited and again the end did not count so some believers reinterpreted the prophecy they propose that the Antichrist must desecrate the temple in
Video examples
Toxic Waste in the...
revere and whose waters we consider holy yeah we remain silent about his desecration tanneries claim the pollution is caused
Video examples
God's Thieves PIPE Saints &...
this desecration is unwise we should not ransack their supple curse
Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
the spanish and the inca until the incan empire is finally conquered by the spanish conquistadors and it the story takes place after that so the inca have now been conquered their sacred temples same sacred sites have been you know desecrated their gold which was a symbol of life itself has
Video examples
Aziza Chaouni: How I...
Actually, the state of the river before entering the medina is pretty healthy. Then pollution takes its toll, mainly due to untreated sewage and chemical dumping from crafts such as tanning. At some point, I couldn't bear the desecration of the river, such an important part of my city,
Video examples
Eve Ensler: Security and...
we come from them, they are mothers, they are visionaries, they are the future. If you think that the U.N. now says that one out of three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime, we're talking about the desecration of the primary resource of the planet,
Video examples
An underwater art...
otherwise, it will be desecrated by someone who doesn't understand that value. So I want to finish up tonight by talking about sacred things. When we were naming the site in Cancun, we named it a museum for a very important and simple museums are places of preservation,
Video examples
It's a church. It's a...
one hears the haunting echoes of the damaged and missing mosaics and icons, desecrated and looted during the Latin Occupation in the Fourth Crusade. Within the floor, the tomb inscription of Enrico Dandolo, the Venetian ruler who commanded the campaign,
Video examples
The dark history of...
though the project was unfinished. None of the four figures had torsos, as intended, and rubble was left piled below. To the Lakota, the monument was a desecration. And the presidents immortalized on the rockface
Video examples
Neil MacGregor: 2600...
He'd ransacked, desecrated the temple. And the great gold vessels of the temple in Jerusalem had been taken to Babylon. Belshazzar, his son, decides to have a feast. And in order to make it even more exciting,
Video examples
Secrets of Revelation PIPE...
evangelical Christians around the world waited and again the end did not count so some believers reinterpreted the prophecy they propose that the Antichrist must desecrate the temple in
Video examples
Toxic Waste in the...
revere and whose waters we consider holy yeah we remain silent about his desecration tanneries claim the pollution is caused
Video examples
God's Thieves PIPE Saints &...
this desecration is unwise we should not ransack their supple curse
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Rob Manuel
Businessman
How do you know Hollywood is getting serious about video games? They want to make one of their own. In 'Defiance,' the remaining humans on Earth, as well as alien species looking for a new home, find themselves settling for peace after a massive war desecrated the world and destroyed most of the alien ships along with it.
Quote examples
Fidel Castro
Statesman
Obama has no way to conceal that Osama was executed in front of his children and wives, who are now under the custody of the authorities of Pakistan, a Muslim country of almost 200 million inhabitants, whose laws have been violated, its national dignity offended, and its religious traditions desecrated.
Quote examples
Franz Wright
American Poet
We know there are poets who are chosen: by what or whom, we no more know than what lies beyond our final breath, or what caused a certain action which resulted in the fulfillment or the desecration and collapse of what we most cared for in life.
Quote examples
Josh Tillman
American Musician
I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thing, or getting too drunk to really do a very good job.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
When somebody throws something out the car window, honk at them, but don't give them the finger. We've got to temper our negative feelings about people who desecrate the environment.
Quote examples
Monica Lewinsky
American Celebrity
This was a mutual relationship, mutual on all levels, right from the way it started and all the way through. I don't accept that he had to completely desecrate my character.
Quote examples
Kenny Marchant
American Politician
Unfortunately a Constitutional amendment that would have empowered Congress to make desecration of the United States flag illegal failed to pass by one vote.
Quote examples
Wendell Berry
American Poet
There are no sacred and unsacred places; there are only sacred and desecrated places. My belief is that the world and our life in it are conditional gifts.
Quote examples
Larry Craig
American Politician
Flag desecration is not a constitutional issue for the courts. It is a political one that belongs to the people.
Quote examples
Rocco Buttiglione
American Politician
We desecrated the traditional values, but new values didn't come along.
Quote examples
Rob Manuel
Businessman
How do you know Hollywood is getting serious about video games? They want to make one of their own. In 'Defiance,' the remaining humans on Earth, as well as alien species looking for a new home, find themselves settling for peace after a massive war desecrated the world and destroyed most of the alien ships along with it.
Quote examples
Fidel Castro
Statesman
Obama has no way to conceal that Osama was executed in front of his children and wives, who are now under the custody of the authorities of Pakistan, a Muslim country of almost 200 million inhabitants, whose laws have been violated, its national dignity offended, and its religious traditions desecrated.
Quote examples
Franz Wright
American Poet
We know there are poets who are chosen: by what or whom, we no more know than what lies beyond our final breath, or what caused a certain action which resulted in the fulfillment or the desecration and collapse of what we most cared for in life.
Quote examples
Josh Tillman
American Musician
I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thing, or getting too drunk to really do a very good job.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
When somebody throws something out the car window, honk at them, but don't give them the finger. We've got to temper our negative feelings about people who desecrate the environment.
Quote examples
Monica Lewinsky
American Celebrity
This was a mutual relationship, mutual on all levels, right from the way it started and all the way through. I don't accept that he had to completely desecrate my character.
Quote examples
Kenny Marchant
American Politician
Unfortunately a Constitutional amendment that would have empowered Congress to make desecration of the United States flag illegal failed to pass by one vote.
Quote examples
Wendell Berry
American Poet
There are no sacred and unsacred places; there are only sacred and desecrated places. My belief is that the world and our life in it are conditional gifts.
Quote examples
Larry Craig
American Politician
Flag desecration is not a constitutional issue for the courts. It is a political one that belongs to the people.
Quote examples
Rocco Buttiglione
American Politician
We desecrated the traditional values, but new values didn't come along.
Example 1 of 10
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