Defile

To sully, corrupt, or make impure; to violate the sanctity of something sacred; to desecrate. This can involve physical contamination, moral corruption, or a deliberate act of disrespect toward something held in high regard, like a place, person, or concept. The act often suggests a damaging or degrading effect on the purity or reputation of the subject.

Defile meaning with examples

• The vandals sought to Defile the ancient temple with graffiti, disrespecting its historical and religious significance, causing outrage among the local community and archeologists, who were deeply saddened by the desecration.
• During the protest, the group attempted to Defile the national flag, intending to symbolize their disapproval of the government's policies and ignite public outcry. The symbolic action drew strong reactions.
• The company was accused of attempting to Defile the environment by dumping toxic waste into the river, ignoring ecological impacts, endangering the wildlife and local population's access to clean water.
• Driven by greed, the unscrupulous merchant was willing to Defile his reputation by selling counterfeit goods, damaging his business image, and betraying the trust of his customers, ultimately leading to heavy penalties.
• The propaganda campaign aimed to Defile the image of their political opponents, spreading false rumors and malicious narratives to damage their reputation, impacting elections and public perception.