defilement
Making something impure
Defilement is the act of making something impure, unclean, or corrupt—or the state of being so contaminated.
The word carries strong connotations of violation, whether physical, moral, or spiritual: the defilement of a sacred site, ritual defilement.
It often appears in religious or literary contexts where purity matters deeply.
Sexual violation is sometimes euphemistically called defilement.
Make impure
- impuritySubstance degrading another's quality
- pollutantEnvironment-harming agent
- adulterationCorrupting by foreign substances
- foulingMaking something unclean
spoilage · corruption · filth · uncleanliness · grime · sully · besmirch · blemish
Substance degrading another's quality
- uncleanSoiled or contaminated
- ablutionRitualized washing of body
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- mikvehJewish purification immersion pool
pollution · taboo · menstruation · corpse · caste · untouchability · lustration · expiation
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- violationBreaking of rules
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
vandalism · iconoclasm · taboo · sanctuary · holy · shrine · temple · altar
Violent offensive act
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- rapeOilseed brassica crop
- degradationDecline in condition
- ravishmentBeing overcome with joy
dishonor · outrage · exploitation · humiliation · victimization · atrocity · brutalization · molestation
taint
Make impure
- impuritySubstance degrading another's quality
- pollutantEnvironment-harming agent
- adulterationCorrupting by foreign substances
fouling · spoilage · corruption · filth · uncleanliness · grime · sully · besmirch · blemish · tarnish
impurity
Substance degrading another's quality
- uncleanSoiled or contaminated
- ablutionRitualized washing of body
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
mikveh · pollution · taboo · menstruation · corpse · caste · untouchability · lustration · expiation · cleansing
sacrilege
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- violationBreaking of rules
irreverence · vandalism · iconoclasm · taboo · sanctuary · holy · shrine · temple · altar · sanctity
assault
Violent offensive act
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- rapeOilseed brassica crop
- degradationDecline in condition
ravishment · dishonor · outrage · exploitation · humiliation · victimization · atrocity · brutalization · molestation · indignity
- disgracedishonor, disgrace, downfall, stigma, scandal
- vicevice, debauchery, prostitution, depravity, immorality
- Levitical Lawburnt offering, sin offering, peace offering, Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur
- spiritual afflictionsdemonic possession, spiritual attack, spiritual darkness, spiritual death, spiritual crisis
- abjectionabjection, disgust, revulsion, repulsion, loathing
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
defilementpurification
Removal of contaminants
purity · cleansing · cleanliness · immaculateness · spotlessness
defilementconsecration
Dedicating to sacred purpose
sanctification · hallowing · veneration · reverence · blessing