desecrate
Defile something sacred
To desecrate is to violate the sacred character of something—a church, a grave, a holy text.
The word implies not just damage but profanation: Vandals desecrated the cemetery with spray paint.
Extended uses apply to anything treated as inviolable: They desecrated his memory with lies.
Make impure harmfully
- taintMake impure
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- sullyDamage one's standing
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
stain · soil · spoil · tarnish · contaminate · foul · degrade · dishonor
Irreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
sacrilegious · unholy · sinful · taboo · apostasy · irreligion · godlessness · anathema
Damage a surface's appearance
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- damageHarm or impairment
- destroyCause complete ruin
- marSpoil the appearance
sabotage · wreck · smash · demolish · disfigure · trash · scar · scrawl
pollute
Make impure harmfully
besmirch · stain · soil · spoil · tarnish · contaminate · foul · degrade · dishonor · disgrace
blasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
- impietyIrreverence toward the divine
heresy · sacrilegious · unholy · sinful · taboo · apostasy · irreligion · godlessness · anathema · excommunication
deface
Damage a surface's appearance
mar · sabotage · wreck · smash · demolish · disfigure · trash · scar · scrawl · mutilate
mockery
Scornful ridicule or travesty
- disrespectLack of regard
- scoffingMocking with contempt
- contemptDisdainful disregard
derision · impudence · insolence · cynicism · ridicule · defiance · flippancy · iconoclasm · sarcasm · disdain
trespass
Unauthorized entry onto property
- breachBreaking of agreement
- infringeViolate another's rights
- transgressViolate a boundary
encroach · intrude · invade · disrespect · disturb · overstep · abuse · assault · offend · disrupt
- grave desecrationDamaging or dishonoring tombs
desecration, desecrated, desecrating, desecrator, desecrates, desecrators, desecrations, desecraters