defiles
Narrow gorge passages
Defiles works as both verb and noun.
To defile something is to make it dirty, impure, or profane—physically or morally: The vandals defiled the cemetery with graffiti.
Sacred places, reputations, and bodies can all be defiled.
Separately, defiles are narrow mountain passes through which troops must march single file: The army was ambushed in the defiles.
Make impure
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- stainLasting surface discoloration
- sullyDamage one's standing
impurity · contaminate · pollute · adulterate · spoil · blight · degrade · soil
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- vandalizeDeliberately damage property
- despoilStrip of possessions
dishonor · pollute · contaminate · violate · altar · shrine · temple · tomb
taint
Make impure
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- stainLasting surface discoloration
sully · impurity · contaminate · pollute · adulterate · spoil · blight · degrade · soil · dirty
sacrilege
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- vandalizeDeliberately damage property
despoil · dishonor · pollute · contaminate · violate · altar · shrine · temple · tomb · grave
mountain
Tall natural landmass
trail · pathway · route · terrain · ridge · valley · alpine · elevation · traverse · expedition
assault
Violent offensive act
trauma · dignity · bodily · force · coerce · attack · harm · victimize · brutalize · molest
- tarnishesblemishes, blots, corrupts, defames, denigrates
defilespurifies
Removes unwanted substances
cleanses · cleans · sanitizes · sterilizes · decontaminates
defilessanctifies
Makes sacred or holy
consecrates · hallows · blesses · purifies · dedicates
defile, defiled, undefiled, defilement, defiling, defiler, defilements, defilers