desanctifying
Stripping sacred status
Desanctifying is removing the sacred status from something—stripping away holiness or reverence.
A place of worship might be desanctified before demolition.
The term extends to secular contexts: The documentary desanctifies the myth of the founding fathers.
The process is the opposite of consecration, turning the sacred back into the ordinary.
Remove from religious control
- desecrateViolate what's sacred
- unhallowMake no longer sacred
- decommissionWithdraw from operational use
- deconsecrateRemove sacred designation
profane · laicize · disestablish · neutralize · strip · divest · revoke · annul
To violate sanctity
- polluteMake impure harmfully
- contaminateMake unclean or unsafe
- taintMake impure
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
besmirch · sully · stain · despoil · violate · profane · dishonor · degrade
Irreverence toward the sacred
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- iconoclasmAttacking revered traditions
profanation · apostasy · transgression · violation · abomination · outrage · offense · affront
Explain something confusing
- disenchantFree from false beliefs
- debunkExpose as false
- exposeMake known publicly
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
humanize · normalize · delegitimize · deconstruct · unveil · unmasking · challenge · critique
secularize
Remove from religious control
- desecrateViolate what's sacred
- unhallowMake no longer sacred
- decommissionWithdraw from operational use
deconsecrate · profane · laicize · disestablish · neutralize · strip · divest · revoke · annul · defrocking
defile
To violate sanctity
- polluteMake impure harmfully
- contaminateMake unclean or unsafe
- taintMake impure
corrupt · besmirch · sully · stain · despoil · violate · profane · dishonor · degrade · debase
blasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
iconoclasm · profanation · apostasy · transgression · violation · abomination · outrage · offense · affront · irreligion
demystify
Explain something confusing
- disenchantFree from false beliefs
- debunkExpose as false
- exposeMake known publicly
rationalize · humanize · normalize · delegitimize · deconstruct · unveil · unmasking · challenge · critique · interrogate
mockery
Scornful ridicule or travesty
- scoffingMocking with contempt
- disrespectLack of regard
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
contempt · defiance · derision · flippancy · satire · sarcasm · cynicism · cheekiness · impudence · disdain
desanctifyingsanctifying
Making sacred or holy
consecrating · hallowing · blessing · dedicating · anointing
desanctifyingvenerating
Regarding with deep respect
exalting · glorifying · revering · honoring · deifying
sanctuary, sanction, saint, sanctity, sanctify, sanctions, sanctioned, sanctimonious, unsanctioned