defiling
Making something impure
Defiling is the act of making something impure, unclean, or corrupt.
The word carries weight—you defile sacred spaces, reputations, or bodies, not ordinary things: Vandals were caught defiling the memorial.
It implies violation of something that deserves respect or protection.
The present participle of defile.
Introducing harmful contaminants
- taintingPolluting or corrupting
- contaminatingMaking something impure
- poisoningHarmful substance exposure
- foulingMaking something unclean
spoiling · adulterating · corrupting · sullying · besmirching · soiling · staining · toxins
Spreading by rubbing
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- tarnishingOxidizing and losing shine
- besmirchingDamaging someone's reputation
- dishonoringBringing shame upon
disgracing · shaming · maligning · libeling · mud-slinging · character assassination · scandal · slur
Violating something sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- templeSacred worship structure
shrine · altar · church · mosque · sanctuary · sanctity · holy · consecrated
Violent offensive act
- rapeOilseed brassica crop
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- molestationCriminal unwanted sexual contact
- violationBreaking of rules
attack · victimization · exploitation · brutalization · degradation · humiliation · trauma · survivor
polluting
Introducing harmful contaminants
- taintingPolluting or corrupting
- contaminatingMaking something impure
- poisoningHarmful substance exposure
fouling · spoiling · adulterating · corrupting · sullying · besmirching · soiling · staining · toxins · impurity
smearing
Spreading by rubbing
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- tarnishingOxidizing and losing shine
- besmirchingDamaging someone's reputation
dishonoring · disgracing · shaming · maligning · libeling · mud-slinging · character assassination · scandal · slur · aspersion
desecration
Violating something sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
temple · shrine · altar · church · mosque · sanctuary · sanctity · holy · consecrated · ritual
assault
Violent offensive act
- rapeOilseed brassica crop
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- molestationCriminal unwanted sexual contact
violation · attack · victimization · exploitation · brutalization · degradation · humiliation · trauma · survivor · perpetrator
- contaminationpolluting, contaminating, fouling, tainting, poisoning
- dirtyingsoiling, dirtying, staining, smearing, smudging
- vandalismvandalism, defacement, tagging, defacing, graffiti tags
- sacrilegeblasphemy, desecration, profanation, idol worship, idolatry
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, rotting, eroding
defilingpurifying
Removing unwanted substances
cleansing · cleaning · purging · decontaminating · sterilizing
defilingconsecrating
Making officially holy
sanctifying · hallowing · honoring · blessing · venerating
defilinghonoring
Recognizing with respect
praising · respecting · dignifying · elevating · ennobling
defile, defiled, undefiled, defilement, defiler, defilements, defiles, defilers